Former Anambra State governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, selected Enugu State as the venue for his defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in what allies say is a calculated move by the South-East to project its political direction ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Leader of the Obidient Movement, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, said Enugu was chosen to underscore the region’s resolve to make a defining statement. He disclosed that leaders and members of the Obidient Movement, which powered Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign, had already converged on Enugu, the South-East zonal capital, ahead of the event.
According to Tanko, Obi had been aligned with the ADC coalition prior to the formal defection, noting that the gathering was meant to outline the next steps for his supporters nationwide. He explained that Enugu’s historical significance informed the decision over Awka, the Anambra State capital.
“Enugu is the historical capital of the East. It gives weight and symbolism when the region wants to make a statement,” Tanko said.
He added that the programme would provide Obi an opportunity to address supporters across the country and lay out plans toward the 2027 elections, stressing that the Obidient Movement was fully mobilised in support.
An ADC national leader confirmed that top party officials would be present to receive Obi, including the party’s national chairman. The event is scheduled to hold at Nike Lake Hotel, Enugu.
Earlier in the week, Obi announced his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, stating that he is adequately prepared for the task. His decision to leave the Labour Party follows months of speculation.
A prominent figure within the Obidient Movement described the move as difficult but unavoidable, arguing that the ADC remains one of the few platforms not yet dominated by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The source said the party offers a credible base to challenge the APC’s hold on power and added that Obi would be joined by serving federal and state lawmakers, as well as political figures from across the country, to strengthen his position.
“The struggle is not about one individual but about building a Nigeria that works for all,” the source said, noting that political compromise is often necessary.
Another ADC chieftain welcomed Obi, assuring that the party’s candidate selection process would be transparent and open.
However, dissenting views have emerged. Dr. Katch Onanuju, who identified himself as a pioneer member of the Obidient Movement, questioned the timing and wisdom of the move. He claimed Obi had been persuaded by a small group into a decision that could undermine his political future.
Onanuju said some advisers had earlier urged Obi to help rebuild a new political platform after what they described as the takeover of the Labour Party by undemocratic interests. He warned that entrenched interests within the ADC might resist handing the party’s ticket to Obi.
“He may be joining too late,” Onanuju said, while wishing him well in his new political path.
