Peter Obi has officially defected from the Labour Party to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a Coalition Party with the mission to “unseat the incumbent”.
Oni made his defection to the ADC official at a political gathering in Enugu State, where he was joined by distinguished leaders and associates, encompassing, former Governors Okwesili Nwodo of Enugu State, Achike Udenwa and Sam Egwu of Ebonyi State, as well as Emeka Ihedioha from Imo State.
Also, Senators who were present at the event included Enyinnaya Abaribe, Victor Umeh, Tony Nwoye, and Gilbert Nnaji; other political personalities – High Chief Ben Obi, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, Prof. Pat Utomi, Prof. Osita Ogbu, Chief Ralph Nwosu, all gathered in Enugu.
The gathering was led by David Mark, National Chairman of the ADC, and former Preident of the Nigerian Senate, alongside former Governor of Sokoto State, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, and former Governor of Edo State, Senator Oserheimen Osunbor.
The former Governor of Anambra State posted on X: “We came together to reaffirm the urgent need for leadership and a government that can truly appreciate Nigeria’s potential, unify our diversity, and drive rapid socio-economic transformation and inclusive development.”
Making his speech, Obi stressed, the problems Nigeria is facing are not as a result of lack of potential; he said, the country is “abundantly endowed” with human and natural resources.
Obi said: “Our tragedy arises from the deliberate sabotage by a political class that exploits the country and its people”, adding, “We are not poor; we have been looted into poverty. The existing system rewards mediocrity, punishes merit, and recycles failure”.
The Labour Party 2023 Presidential Candidate said, Nigeria is being choked by “impunity and greed”, he added, the system needs “genuine change”.
Obi cried: “Nigeria is suffocating under impunity and greed, with a government that rewards illegalities and corruption. What we need is genuine, patriotic change—not mere cosmetic makeovers.”
He made it clear that, “the time to act is now”, saying, “the choice before us is between continuing the cycle of decay or embracing the courage to disrupt entrenched corruption and formalized criminality in governance”.
Obi said, he has visited every nook and cranny of Nigeria, including, the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camps which have been “neglected” by the government; he continued, “insecurity and despair” that Nigerians are battling with “cannot define our legacy”.
He staunchly said, the time to “dismantle” those structures that are destroying Nigeria has definitely come, and that must be achieved for the sake of the “hungry, poor and future generations”.
Obi reasserted, with “unity, effective leadership”, the sectors of “agriculture and manufacturing” can emerge the “highest contributors” to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
With certainty, Obi said: “We can transition Nigeria from a state of consumption to one of production, tackling issues such as insecurity, corruption, unemployment, inflation, and illiteracy”; and encouraged that, a “productive and inclusive” Nigeria can be achieved.
Obi called for a leadership that is “transparent, honest and responsive” to bring about “lasting unity and prosperity”.
He called on leaders, associates, supporters, the Obidient Movement, as well as, members of opposition parties all over the country to be a part of a “huge” Coalition under the ADC, led by Senator David Mark, and said, “this is a time for unity and national renewal”.
Obi said, the ADC Coalition is “guided by patriotism and the national interest.”
