Former Anambra State governor and 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, has chosen Enugu State as the venue for his formal defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a move described by his supporters as a strategic statement by the South-East ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Leader of the Obidient Movement, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, disclosed this in an interview with Vanguard, explaining that Enugu’s historical significance as the former Eastern Regional capital made it a symbolic location for the announcement.
“Enugu is the historical capital of the East. It adds historical solidity when the East wants to make a statement,” Tanko said.
He revealed that leaders and members of the Obidient Movement from across the country were already in Enugu to support Obi, noting that the former governor had been part of the ADC coalition for some time and that the event was aimed at outlining the next steps for his supporters ahead of the 2027 polls.
“The programme today is for Mr. Obi to chart the way forward for his numerous supporters across the country. The leader is speaking to us today. The Obidient Movement is here in our numbers to give full support,” Tanko added.
According to party sources, national leaders of the ADC, including the party’s national chairman, are expected to attend the event, which is billed to hold at Nike Lake Hotel, Enugu.
“We are excited. The national leadership of the ADC will be on ground to welcome him,” a senior party official told Vanguard.
Obi’s defection follows months of speculation and comes shortly after he publicly declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, stating that he is better prepared to lead Nigeria.
Explaining the rationale behind the move, a leading figure in the Obidient Movement said Obi’s decision, though difficult, was inevitable.
“The ADC is perhaps the only major platform yet to be infiltrated by President Bola Tinubu and the APC. It has men and women capable of posing a serious challenge to APC’s dominance,” the source said.
He added that Obi is expected to move into the ADC with the support of serving federal and state lawmakers, as well as political heavyweights from across the country, to strengthen his political bargaining power.
“In politics, compromise is sometimes necessary to achieve a greater goal,” he noted.
Another ADC chieftain welcomed Obi, assuring that the party’s candidate selection process would be transparent.
“Like any Nigerian, Obi is welcome. Our doors are open, and our process will be fair,” he said.
However, the move has drawn criticism from some quarters. Dr. Katch Onanuju, who describes himself as a pioneer leader of the Obidient Movement, expressed concern that the decision could harm Obi’s political future.
“I can confirm that Mr. Obi has made up his mind to join the ADC. Unfortunately, he has been cornered into a decision that some of us believe could end his political career,” Onanuju said.
He argued that Obi should have moved earlier to help rebuild a new political platform after the Labour Party became riddled with internal crises.
“He is joining the ADC rather late, and there are already entrenched interests who may prefer to destroy the party rather than hand the ticket to him. We can only wish him the best,” he added.
Despite the mixed reactions, Obi’s defection marks a major development in Nigeria’s evolving opposition politics as attention increasingly shifts to the 2027 presidential race.
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