Former Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has officially defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), urging Nigerians and opposition groups to rally around a broad coalition to “rescue Nigeria from poverty, disunity and democratic decline.”
Obi announced his move on Wednesday at the Nike Lake Resort in Enugu while delivering his New Year address, where he accused the current political leadership of state capture, economic mismanagement and the steady weakening of democratic institutions.
Explaining his decision, the former Anambra State governor said it was driven strictly by national interest and patriotism.
“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 African Democratic Congress. History will not forgive silence in moments of national peril,” he said.
Presenting the defection as part of a wider national responsibility, Obi said Nigeria had reached a decisive moment that demanded unity and purpose beyond partisan divisions.
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“As the year 2025 ends today, we stand on the threshold of a new beginning. For Nigeria, moments of profound national challenge demand clarity of purpose and decisive action. That moment is now,” he stated.
He painted a grim picture of the country’s condition, citing rising poverty, unemployment and insecurity as signs of deep-rooted failure in governance.
“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,” Obi said.
Rejecting claims that Nigeria’s struggles are unavoidable, he blamed leadership failure rather than lack of resources.
“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,” he said.
Obi also accused the political elite of exploiting ethnic and religious divisions to retain power.
“Their expertise lies in creating more divisions to sustain themselves in office, with little or no interest in unity or inclusive development,” he added.
He warned that the credibility of future elections must not be compromised, stressing that meaningful electoral reforms are essential ahead of 2027. He cautioned against any attempt to manipulate the electoral process.
Drawing comparisons from his international engagements, Obi referenced countries that have achieved rapid progress through responsible leadership, pointing specifically to Indonesia.
“Indonesia and Nigeria started with similar characteristics,” he said, “but while Indonesia is now a trillion-dollar economy, Nigeria is grappling with de-industrialisation, corruption and deepening poverty.”
The former presidential candidate also criticised the Federal Government’s tax reforms, describing them as unfriendly to citizens and harmful to economic growth.
He condemned reports surrounding a forged tax law, calling it dangerous to national trust. “A tax regime founded on forgery cannot build trust, unity or prosperity,” Obi stated.
Positioning his defection as part of a long-term political strategy, Obi said opposition unity remains crucial to challenging what he described as “a government that thrives on division and propaganda” ahead of the 2027 general elections.