By RismadarVoice Media
December 31, 2025
Former Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has formally defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), calling on Nigerians, opposition forces to unite under a broad national coalition to address the country’s challenges.
Obi, a former Governor of Anambra State, announced his defection on Wednesday at the Nike Lake Resort in Enugu during a New Year address, where he criticized Nigeria’s current political leadership over what he described as state capture, economic mismanagement, the steady erosion of democratic values.
He said his decision to join the ADC was driven by patriotism, national interest, urging his political associates, members of the Obidient Movement and other opposition leaders to rally around the party.
“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,” Obi said.
“History will not forgive silence in moments of national peril.”
Presenting his defection as part of a larger national mission, Obi said Nigeria had reached a critical turning point, could no longer afford politics built on division.
“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.
Obi described Nigeria as a nation in deep distress, citing widespread poverty, unemployment, insecurity.
“With over 130 million Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty, 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.
Rejecting claims that Nigeria’s crisis was inevitable, Obi argued that leadership failure, rather than lack of resources is responsible for the country’s condition.
“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.
He accused the political elite of deliberately exploiting ethnic, religious divisions to remain in power, warning that such practices were undermining national unity and development.
Obi also raised concerns over the integrity of future elections, insisting that comprehensive electoral reforms were non-negotiable, cautioning against any attempt to compromise the 2027 general elections.
Drawing comparisons from his international engagements, Obi said leadership choices had made the difference between Nigeria and countries that had achieved rapid development, citing Indonesia as an example.
He further criticized the Federal Government’s tax reforms, describing them as anti-people, economically counterproductive; warned that allegations of forged tax laws could undermine public trust.
Positioning his defection as part of preparations toward 2027, Obi said opposition unity was essential towards unseating what he described as a government sustained by division, propaganda.
