By Ayomide Otitoju
Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has officially joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), alongside other political leaders from Nigeria’s South-East geopolitical zone. The declaration was made on Wednesday in Enugu, the state capital, after months of consultations.
The leaders said their move aims to collaborate with opposition parties nationwide to “rescue Nigeria from the poor governance of the All Progressives Congress (APC).”
Prominent figures at the event included former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; Senators Ben Obi, Victor Umeh, Tony Nwoye, Gilbert Nnaji, and Enyinnaya Abaribe; former governors; Chief Onyema Ugochukwu; Senator Sam Egwu; and other members of the National Assembly. National ADC leaders such as former Senate President and party chairman David Mark, and former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal were also present.
In his address, Obi described the move as the start of a journey to restore proper socio-economic development and unity to Nigeria. He criticised APC-led governance, highlighting coercion and attempts to weaken opposition parties, and warned against any attempt to rig the 2027 elections.
Obi urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to uphold electoral rules and standards, stressing the need to verify educational qualifications of candidates and ensure fairness in upcoming polls.
He also faulted the Federal Government’s tax reforms, describing them as unfriendly to citizens and harmful to economic growth. Obi emphasised the importance of opposition unity and competent leadership to reverse Nigeria’s current state of disunity.
Peter Obi’s move adds him to a growing list of political heavyweights, including Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, and Nasir El-Rufai, who earlier joined the ADC, setting the stage for a high-stakes contest against the APC in 2027.
