Now that Peter Obi is in ADC…

The defection of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi, to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on December 31, 2025, got many tongues wagging. Though several questions that held back the planned defection still linger, Obi’s eventual defection appears to have answered a critical question about opposition unity. General Editor Politics, TAIWO ADISA examines Obi’s decision to team up with the ADC, the bounce in opposition’s heels, and the implications going forward.

THERE was frenzy among leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the last days of the year 2025 as news filtered into town that the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi, would openly declare for the new political coalition on December 31.  It came as a shock to many, and to others, it was a befitting end of year news.  Some were able to alter their travel arrangements to accommodate the trip to Enugu, the South-East heartland, where Obi made the declaration, while others waited with bated breath for the news to break. As the day came and went, political insiders, especially within the ADC, were relieved that they had crossed a major hurdle in the battle of 2027.   

The ADC is a political party that was fashioned after the all-conquering political movement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of 2014.  It was true that the APC hit the road towards 2015 with massive tanks and political armoury way back in 2013 and like a huge caterpillar, it bulldosed its way through to Aso Rock, Abuja by securing alliances with a faction of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the whole of the Action Congress of Nigeria, the All Nigeria Peoples Party, Congress for Progressive Change, and a small bit of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

Incidentally, many of the actors in today’s ADC were participants in signing the deals that gave birth to the APC in 2014. So, when the idea of another coalition was contemplated, the rise to power of the APC was still fresh in the minds of the initiators. The thinking was that the APC blueprint could be replicated all over again, and that was the push behind the coming together of bigwigs from the Labour Party (LP), the PDP, a fraction of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), and the Social Democratic Party (SDP). But the elephant in the room remains Peter Obi and the Obidients Movement, who somewhat grew heavy limbs very early in the journey.

It became a thing of concern for the coalition as the LP and Obidients developed what looked like cold feet after the seemingly fiery take-off of the opposition coalition. Not a few of its leaders were worried about the growing clay feet at the time the party needed to fly with eagle’s wings. It was obvious that there were unresolved issues and that the cause of the slow motion could not be far-fetched. A key part of the issue is the question of who picks the presidential ticket of the party between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the former LP candidate, Peter Obi. Somehow, insinuation had festered that the ADC is one party that has Atiku’s signature written over it and that any other politician joining may have to play second fiddle to Nigeria’s former number two man. Obi’s men have voiced it clearly that they would oppose anything that would condemn their man to playing the second fiddle in 2027, especially after their good showing in the 2023 election, where their man won 12 states, the same number as the APC, while winning over six million votes.

For months, the ambivalence from Obi’s camp was a source of strength for the ruling party, APC, and a source of weakness for the opposition coalition. Leaders of the APC had started reveling in the possibility of a stuck coalition in view of the emerging discord over the group’s 2027 presidential ticket. The development was almost creating some lukewarmness among members of the coalition and forlorn hopes in the opposition’s camp.  Thus, when the announcement came that Obi would finally join the ADC on December 31, the entire scene got lit with joy in the opposition’s camp once again.  Obi had been part of the discussions that led to the formation of the ADC in the first instance, and his coldness or withdrawal at this stage could amount to a death knell for the push against the APC. So, Obi’s December 31, 2025, declaration in Enugu came with a big bang that has further propelled the bounce in the heels of the emerging opposition party.

When asked about the implication of Peter Obi’s declaration, a chieftain of the party said that many of the leaders were pleasantly surprised to see the invitation cards flying around and that party chiefs were hopeful that the day would come and go without a hitch. When further asked whether all issues relating to the concerns among Obi’s loyalists about the 2027 presidential ticket have been sorted, the leader of the party said that the party chiefs have read through the antics of the ruling APC to destabilise the party using the presidential ticket as a gimmick.

As expected, Obi’s Enugu declaration was pungent and direct. He said, “Fellow Nigerians, this is the time for unity and prosperity. The signs are clear, and the mission is settled. Having been part of the coalition from inception, I now respectfully call on my political leaders, associates, supporters, the Obidient Movement, political leaders, and members of the opposition parties across the country to join this broad national coalition under the African Democratic Congress led by Sen. David Mark.

“This decision is guided solely by patriotism and national interest. We are working with leaders across political divides who share a common commitment to rescuing Nigeria. The task ahead is enormous, but it is not insurmountable. History may forgive wrong decisions, but it will not forgive silence in moments of national peril.”

Ahead of that declaration, Obi and his loyalists were said to be upbeat about the fate of the former LP chieftain in the ADC. It was gathered that he had told many of his supporters that he stood the best chance to clinch the presidential ticket of the party ahead of the 2027 election. Sources had told the Nigerian Tribune that a meeting of the National Opposition Movement (NOM) had also helped to shape the development in Obi’s camp, as it had been agreed at the meetings of the NOM that every leader of the coalition should work towards building the structure first before the talks of who wins the presidential ticket would be brought forward. The National Publicity Secretary to the ADC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, told Tribune Politics that his party was yet to discuss the issue of 2027 tickets, adding that the party was preoccupied with other issues at the moment.

READ ALSO: 2027: Peter Obi is the only life in ADC, others are nonexistent – Fayose

Days before the declaration, sources said that leaders of the ADC had agreed on the need to keep the talks of zoning of the presidential ticket in abeyance. It was, therefore, gathered that Peter Obi’s decision to announce his full departure from the LP complied with the decision of the opposition leaders, both at the level of the ADC and the NOM.

“The truth of the matter is that the conversation over zoning has not taken place. At the level of the ADC and the NOM, the discussions have been that all leaders must agree to build a party first and that the interests of everybody would be taken care of in the case of electoral contests,” a leader of the party said.

“At the inaugural meeting of the National Opposition Movement (NOM), the stakeholders actually appealed to all concerned and their close aides not to make the issue of tickets a priority for now. It was also argued that anyone who is hammering on the ticket to kind of cause division in the opposition is practically working for the ruling party. So, I believe that the leaders have resolved to work within their networks and keep consolidating ahead of the primaries. We all know that candidates must emerge by July of 2026, so all of the potential candidates have the time to sell themselves within the zones,” a source had said.

Another source further said that the assurances of fairness by leaders of the ADC and NOM might have given Obi and his supporters the confidence to push forward.

“I think he (Obi) has realised that the Obidients are at home with the leadership of the ADC and that he cannot do it alone.  He might also have been assured that the promise of fairness by the leadership of the ADC was not a fluke, a development that possibly informed his decision,” the source said.

At the Enugu rally, Obi asked several questions concerning national unity. Do we deserve a government that thrives on division, propaganda, and indifference to the suffering of its people?  He asked, adding that he was of the belief that Nigeria deserves patriotic leadership that unites and governs with empathy. “Let history record that Nigeria’s turning point began here and now. Together, let us move forward with courage, unity, and resolve. A new, united, productive,e and inclusive Nigeria is possible,” he said.

As he usually does, Obi raised lots of statistics to define what he called the worsening socio-economic situation in the country. He said: “With over 130 million Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty, more than 80 million youths unemployed, worsening insecurity, fiscal recklessness, disunity, and the absence of inclusive governance, like many patriotic Nigerians, I am deeply disturbed by the state of our nation. The question on everyone’s lips is whether there is still hope for Nigeria. Despite the gravity of our situation, I remain firmly optimistic! Given our immense human and natural resources, I am convinced that a new Nigeria is possible—a functional, productive, and inclusive nation.

“Motivated by my desperation for a New Nigeria That Is Possible, I am in constant search for possible solutions to make Nigeria work for all Nigerians, to make Nigeria an inclusive and progressively sustainable nation. While we are faced with a litany of socio-economic problems, the absence of unity caused by dishonest, corrupt, and ineffective leadership is at the heart of our problems.”

The Enugu event, anchored by Senator Victor Umeh, was attended by leaders of the ADC and various groups that helped midwife the party. A chieftain of the party told the gathering that the declaration in Enugu was significant because the town was the heartland of the South-East, with historical significance as the capital of the old Eastern Region. The gathering also witnessed a strong show of support from political and community leaders across the Southeastern states.  Former Senator Ben Obi, who had served as running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, told the gathering that extensive consultations across the country had revealed the urgent need for credible leadership to be provided by the ADC, adding that the ADC was set to rescue the nation from the hands of those he called “callous leaders.”

Senator Umeh thereafter announced that all Labour Party members, including Obi, had formally resigned to join the ADC, while former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, moved a motion for all National Assembly members present to follow Obi into the ADC. The motion was seconded by Prof. Osita Ogbu and unanimously passed. At that point, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who is representing Abia South in the Red Chamber, announced his resignation from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and pledged loyalty to the ADC. This was followed by activist Aisha Yesuf, who also declared her intention to become a card-carrying member of the ADC, having been inspired by Obi’s leadership. Another chieftain from Abia State, and journalism great, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, who was also at the event, told the gathering that he was one of the few old men who had expressed a desire that Mr. Peter Obi become the presidential candidate of the ADC. He said: “I am one of the old men who feel it is time to give room to younger people.” Aside from Chief Ugochukwu, the youths and different groups also expressed their joy at Obi’s declaration. A youth leader, Chinonso Obasi, told the people that: “Today is a day that the Lord has made. With the youth actively involved, the movement will be essentially driven by young Nigerians.”

A former chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief (Mrs) Josephine Anenih, who enjoined the women to readily support the ADC, said that the vacancy in Aso Rock would soon be declared and that Peter Obi was best placed to occupy the place. National chairman of the ADC, and former Senate President, Senator David Mark, highlighted the party’s founding principles of equality, justice, and progressiveness, and praised the people of the South-East for their support. He pledged that the party would uphold internal democracy, respect its members, create jobs, and provide productive and inclusive leadership. Many speakers at the gathering declared that the declaration marked a decisive step toward national unity and transformation, while many former governors, legislators, and community leaders publicly declared their membership of the ADC.

Some of the political leaders at the gathering include David Mark, Chief Simeon Okeke, former governors Achike Udenwa and Sam Egwu, Okwesilieze Nwodo, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, Emeka Ihedioha, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor, Chief Ralph Nwosu, Sen. Tony Nwoye, Hon.  Afam Ogene, Sen. Gilbert Nnaji, Hon. Idu Emeka, Hon. Peter Aniekwe, Hon. Oby Orogbu, Hon. Nonso Smart, Barrister Chinedu Idigo, Prof. ChinyereStellaa Okunna, Chief Fidel Okafor, Hon. Barr. Joe-Martins Uzodike, Prof. Patrick Obi, Hon. Onyeanwuna Ezeani, and Prof. Pat Utomi, as well as representatives of the Obidient Movement, led by Dr. Yunusa Tanko, among many others.

With the bounce now noticeable on its heels, it can be said that the ADC is fast emerging as the opposition structure the founders presumed it to be. Whether it would be able to beat the records already set by the APC in 2015 is another issue entirely, but not a few would agree that it would amount to a dangerous gamble to wave off the duo of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi if they agree to operate under the same umbrella. Remember that in the 2023 election, while Atiku polled 6,984,520 votes, Obi polled 6, 101,533 votes. They jointly accounted for 13, 086,053 votes in that election, far ahead of the incumbent President Bola Tinubu, who won 8,794,726 votes. With Obi and Atiku under the same umbrella in the ADC, Nigerians would be eager to see the party’s version of personal ambition management and the management of party positions, the twin evils that usually dog coalitions in the country.