Former Labour Party presidential candidate and ex-Anambra Governor, Peter Obi, has formally joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), urging Nigerians and opposition forces to unite under a broad coalition to “rescue Nigeria from poverty, disunity and democratic decline.”
Obi announced his defection at Nike Lake Resort in Enugu on Wednesday, delivering a New Year address that criticised the current administration for state capture, economic mismanagement, and the erosion of democratic norms.
“This decision is guided solely by patriotism and national interest. I now respectfully call on my political associates, the Obidient Movement, and opposition leaders across the country to join this broad national coalition under the ADC. History will not forgive silence in moments of national peril,” he said.
Obi highlighted Nigeria’s current challenges, citing widespread poverty, unemployment, and insecurity. “With over 130 million Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty and more than 80 million youths unemployed, our people are in persistent agony. This is not the destiny God bequeathed to over 220 million Nigerians,” he said.
He rejected the notion that Nigeria’s crisis is inevitable, arguing that leadership failure, not lack of resources, is responsible. “As a nation, we are not poor; we are looted into poverty. Nigeria is not broken; Nigeria is severely betrayed. The average Nigerian is not lazy or incompetent, but the system is rigged to reward mediocrity and recycle failure,” Obi added.
Obi also criticised the political elite for exploiting ethnic and religious divisions to maintain power and warned against attempts to manipulate the 2027 elections, calling electoral reforms non-negotiable.
Drawing from international examples, Obi compared Nigeria’s trajectory to countries like Indonesia, noting that while both nations began with similar conditions, Indonesia is now a trillion-dollar economy, whereas Nigeria struggles with de-industrialisation, corruption, and deepening poverty.
He also denounced the Federal Government’s recent tax reforms as anti-people and counterproductive, highlighting alleged instances of forgery in the legislation.
Positioning his move strategically for the 2027 elections, Obi emphasised that unity among opposition forces is critical to challenging a government “that thrives on division and propaganda.”
