Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), warning that Nigeria’s problems stem from systemic looting rather than a lack of resources.
Speaking on Wednesday at the Nike Lake Resort in Enugu, Obi said his decision was driven by a national cause and called on opposition forces to unite ahead of the 2027 elections.
He argued that Nigeria’s wealth has been misused, saying the country is not poor but “looted into poverty,” and that citizens are neither lazy nor incapable, but trapped in a system that rewards failure. The former Anambra State governor accused political leaders of deepening ethnic and religious divisions to retain power, with little commitment to unity or inclusive growth.
Describing the nation as being in severe distress, Obi cited figures showing more than 130 million Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty and over 80 million unemployed youths. He said this reality falls far short of Nigeria’s potential and destiny.
Obi also expressed concerns about the credibility of future elections, insisting that electoral reforms are essential and warning against any attempt to manipulate the 2027 polls. Comparing Nigeria with Indonesia, he noted that while both countries started from similar positions, Indonesia has grown into a trillion-dollar economy, whereas Nigeria faces deindustrialisation, corruption, and rising poverty.
He criticised recent tax reforms as harmful to ordinary people and economically damaging, adding that allegations of a forged tax law undermine public trust. Obi framed his move to the ADC as a strategic effort to build a broad opposition coalition, urging his supporters, the Obidient Movement, and other opposition leaders to rally behind the party in the national interest.
Welcoming the defection, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described Obi’s move as a major milestone for opposition politics, expressing optimism that the growing ADC coalition would strengthen democratic competition and offer Nigerians a credible alternative for peace and prosperity.
