The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has formally defected to the African Democratic Congress.
Obi announced his decision on Wednesday at a political gathering held at the Nike Lake Resort in Enugu, where leaders of opposition parties and key stakeholders converged.
The event attracted prominent figures, including the national chairman of the ADC, David Mark, and other members of the emerging opposition coalition.
Speaking at the event, Obi said his decision was guided by the need to reposition the opposition ahead of future elections and strengthen efforts aimed at national renewal.
“We are ending this year with the hope that in 2026 we will begin a rescue journey.”
“We will resist rigging of election by every lawful means in 2027,” he said.
He stressed the importance of early preparation, particularly in addressing pre-election issues that often derail electoral outcomes.
“We still have a one-year window for everyone to go and verify the schools they attended.”
“We do not want to return to court again only to be told it is a pre-election matter. The pre-election process should start now,” he said.
Obi’s defection came amid speculations that some Labour Party leaders, including Abia State Governor Alex Otti, might also be leaving the party. However, Otti dismissed the reports a day earlier during his monthly media briefing in Umuahia.
The governor confirmed that Obi had personally informed him of his intention to leave the Labour Party, adding that he respected and supported the decision, even though he chose to remain.
“He has communicated to me that he is leaving the Labour Party. I gave him my blessings, But I will remain in the Labour Party, and I told him that I would continue the struggle to rescue the Labour Party,” Otti said.
Otti noted that he joined the Labour Party before Obi and did not see the former Anambra State governor’s exit as a reason to abandon the platform that brought him to power.
“That is the party that brought me to power. If we fight and get to the end and we are unable to reposition the Labour Party, then we can discuss other options. Therefore, for now, I am not defecting to any party,” the governor said.
