Peter Obi Picks Enugu for Historic Defection to ADC Ahead of 2027 Elections
Former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate and ex-Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has chosen Enugu State as the venue for his official defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a move seen as a strategic push ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Obi’s defection ceremony is taking place in Enugu’s Nike Lake Hotel, drawing leaders and supporters of the Obidient Movement, the grassroots group that backed his 2023 presidential campaign, in large numbers. According to Dr. Yunusa Tanko, a national leader of the movement, the South-East’s traditional political capital was selected to add symbolic weight to the event and signal the region’s growing influence in national politics.
“Enugu is the historical capital of the East, and it adds historical solidity when the East wants to make a statement,” Tanko told Vanguard as supporters gathered ahead of the function. He added that Obi has long been part of the ADC coalition’s ethos and that the event will set the tone for coordinating his supporters nationwide in the run-up to 2027.
ADC Welcomes Obi, Supporters Predict Major Shake-Up
Top ADC figures are expected to attend the ceremony, with the party’s national chairman and other leaders present to formally receive Obi into their fold. The leadership has publicly welcomed him, asserting that the party’s candidate-selection process will remain open and transparent as it seeks to broaden its national appeal.
Champions of Obi’s decision argue that the ADC remains one of the few major platforms not yet dominated by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), offering a potentially competitive space for opposition politics. According to one Obidient leader, Obi will be joined by a cohort of federal and state lawmakers and other political heavyweights who support his vision.
Mixed Reactions from Within Obi’s Camp
Not all reactions have been positive. Dr. Katch Onanuju, a pioneer member of the Obidient Movement, cautioned that joining the ADC at this stage might limit Obi’s prospects. He suggested that entrenched interests within ADC could undermine Obi’s bid and that some in the movement had preferred building an alternative platform instead of defecting. Nonetheless, Onanuju wished Obi well in his new political journey.
Obi Sets Sights on 2027
Earlier in the week, Obi affirmed his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, asserting he is well prepared for leadership. His defection marks the culmination of months of speculation and signals a pivotal realignment in Nigeria’s opposition politics as parties and leaders position themselves for the next national polls.