₦airaland Forum

A former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, is set to formally join the African Democratic Congress amid ongoing consultations ahead of the 2027 general elections.

A principal official of the party in Abuja told Sunday PUNCH that Obi had concluded plans to join the party and hold a declaration rally in Enugu, the political capital of the South-East, on December 31.

According to the official, Obi’s supporters and loyalists have begun arrangements for the defection.

The source disclosed that Obi, after the ADC asked him to make up his mind on joining the party about three weeks ago, met with the National Chairman of the party, David Mark, to renew his allegiance to the coalition.

He said the party’s position might have convinced the former Anambra State governor to finally decide to join the ADC.

On December 7, the ADC, while reacting to a statement credited to Obi in which he described the party as unstable, told the presidential hopeful to make up his mind on whether or not to join the coalition.

Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, the party source said, “We are aware that Peter Obi is making plans to declare for the ADC on December 31 in Enugu. Although he has yet to formally inform the party, the plans are genuine.”

Asked why Obi would prefer to declare for the coalition in Enugu instead of Anambra, his home state, the party official said, “Enugu is the political capital of the South-East. Obi is representing the region, not just his state. That must have informed his decision.”

But the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said he could not confirm Obi’s planned defection.

“The point is that there is no official announcement yet. But consultations are ongoing,” he said.

Similarly, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, declined to comment directly on the matter, insisting that only Obi could speak on it.

But the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee of the Labour Party has downplayed Obi’s planned defection.

The National Publicity Secretary of the LP, Obiora Ifoh, in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, said the party would refrain from making any definitive pronouncement on the matter until Obi personally speaks on it.

He said, “We cannot fully comment on that until we hear from Obi. As we normally say, anybody can defect from anywhere to anywhere. It is normal in Nigerian politics. Labour Party doesn’t see it as a big deal.”

According to Ifoh, any decision by Obi to leave the party would be driven by personal ambition rather than institutional failure, adding that the Labour Party would continue to thrive regardless.

While reiterating that the party harboured no ill feelings, the LP spokesman said it would have been preferable for Obi to remain within the fold and work through any disagreements internally.

He said, “But the wisest thing for him to do is to stay back and work with the party that gave him the spread he got in 2023. He should try to reconcile with the party leadership and move on from there. But if he prefers to jump from one party to another, we wish him all the best.”

ADC plans convention to pick presidential candidate
Meanwhile, the ADC will hold its national convention mid-2026 as part of broader efforts to reposition the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party spokesman, Abdullahi, who disclosed this to one of our correspondents on Saturday, said the party was currently focused on nationwide mobilisation, membership expansion and internal consolidation.

He said the immediate priority of the party was to build a “solid organisational framework” across the country, stressing that ongoing membership registration would form the foundation for future congresses and conventions.

He explained that 2026 would be a defining year for the party, particularly as preparations for the selection of a presidential candidate would significantly alter the political landscape and energise party activities nationwide.

He said, “Don’t forget that by June or July, at the latest, we must have a presidential candidate. That will also add to the momentum and redraw the political dynamic.

“Once a presidential candidate emerges and you see people also coming up to contest the governorship election, it will change the momentum,” he stated.

According to him, the current pace of political activity within the party should not be mistaken for a lack of preparedness, as election-year dynamics typically trigger heightened engagement.

On whether a specific date had been fixed for the ADC’s national convention, Abdullahi said discussions were ongoing but clarified that the party planned to hold two conventions in 2026.

“We will have the first convention to ratify the decisions that the NEC has taken this year. We will have another one to decide our next presidential candidate. That will come towards the middle of the year. But I cannot give you a definite date for now,” he said.

Mrfixitt:
The right thing is for Atiku to support Peter Obi and wait for the turn of the north. If that is done, Tinubu will be booted out of power in the next election

miracle002:
If Obi finally defects to ADC, Tinubu should just prepare his hand over note ahead of 2027. It is over for Tinubu and Apc

Mrfixitt:
The right thing is for Atiku to support Peter Obi and wait for the turn of the north. If that is done, Tinubu will be booted out of power in the next election

Thiefobi1:
The most Defected politician of all time.


Moving from pillar to post.



This guy is just wasting his time away thinking other tribe will vote him again.

helinues:
Obi joining ADC won't make any different because he would likely be vicing Atiku in 2027. Him doing that, he should forget about SW, SS and NC votes

miracle002:
Look at what you are saying. Imagine Two Political heavyweights merging together as President and vice President. What an irresistible force.

helinues:
May be Atiku as a political heavyweight but you see Peter Obi, he is a featherweight politician in Nigeria.

Currently, his strength is only in his region. Other regions that might be sympathetic, his supporters have abused all of them

miracle002:
Someone that won Lagos a Yoruba land singlehandedly and also Abuja you are calling political Featherweight

miracle002:
That is the truth. If Atiku should support Obi, Peter Obi will win the election before 12 noon election day.

If Atiku supports Obi, it means North and South South together with South East against South West. Some of the south westerns are not even happy with Tinubu

AMINDA:
Here we go again. The right thing was also for Tinubu to step aside and support a candidate from the Southeast in 2023 but he didn't because power is not served on a plate. You have to give to receive. Tinubu gave to the APC in 2015 and rightfully received when it was time (hence, Emi Lokan). That's political horsetrading. The ADC is a new arrangement and a coalition. The party will consider its strengths and weaknesses and choose its candidate through a transparent primary open to ALL candidates. Whoever is not comfortable with this arrangement should not bother joining the party and go try their luck elsewhere.

muykem:
If Peter Obi accept VP position, ADC will not get 25% in any south south states. Atiku unbridled greed ambition is a major bottleneck in ADC.

Thiefobi1:
The most Defected politician of all time.


Moving from pillar to post.



This guy is just wasting his time away thinking other tribe will vote him again.

helinues:
May be Atiku as a political heavyweight but you see Peter Obi, he is a featherweight politician in Nigeria.

Currently, his strength is only in his region. Other regions that might be sympathetic, his supporters have abused all of them

Mrfixitt:
The right thing is for Atiku to support Peter Obi and wait for the turn of the north. If that is done, Tinubu will be booted out of power in the next election

miracle002:
If Obi finally defects to ADC, Tinubu should just prepare his hand over note ahead of 2027. It is over for Tinubu and Apc

miracle002:
That is the truth. If Atiku should support Obi, Peter Obi will win the election before 12 noon election day.

If Atiku supports Obi, it means North and South South together with South East against South West. Some of the south westerns are not even happy with Tinubu

miracle002:
Look at what you are saying. Imagine Two Political heavyweights merging together as President and vice President. What an irresistible force.

Mrfixitt:
You Atiku supporters don't want to be truthful to yourselves. Let me break it for you dude. Atiku can't be Nigeria president in 2027 because the odds are against him.
It's the turn of the south and secondly another Muslim president emerging after Tinubu is not gonna work because Gej was the last Christian president. If Atiku doesn't do the right thing, he will still fail again

miracle002:
If Obi finally defects to ADC, Tinubu should just prepare his hand over note ahead of 2027. It is over for Tinubu and Apc