Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has formally exited the Labour Party to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
After months of leadership tussles within the Labour Party (LP) between Julius Abure and various factions, Obi’s exit marks the end of an era for the “Obidient” movement under the Labour Party.
The defection aimed towards building a massive coalition base ahead of the 2027 general elections, was met with resistance by some fraction of the party. A faction led by Nafiu Gombe issued a statement on January 1, disowning the registration of Peter Obi at a zonal office in Enugu, claiming it bypassed the constitutional requirement for ward-level entry of the party.
Obi made this announcement at the Nike Lake Resort in Enugu, calling for unity by opposition members. Other political heavyweights like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar since shifted allegiance to the ADC, to defeat the ruling party in 2027 polls.
Obi, who registered at the ADC South-East Zonal Office in Enugu on New Year’s Eve, stressed the need to rescue Nigeria from democratic decline.
National Chairman Nafiu Gombe’s faction insists that because Obi did not register in his home ward in Anambra, his membership is invalid.
The office of the national chairman distances the original, constitutionally-governed ADC from the reported registration of Mr. Peter Obi at the Enugu Zonal office. Any registration carried out contrary to the ward-level provision is considered irregular – Nafiu Gombe, ADC Factional Chairman
Meanwhile, the LP leadership under Julius Abure reacted by describing the departure of Obi as a liberation. Julius Abure apologized to Nigerians for fielding him in 2023.
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