Former Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has called on the Obidient Movement to join the African Democratic Congress(ADC).
Obi who made the called while announcing his formal defection to ADC, at the Nike Lake Resort, Enugu on Wednesday said that his decision was guided solely by patriotism and national interest.
“I respectfully call on my political associates, the Obidient Movement and opposition leaders across the country to join this broad national coalition under the African Democratic Congress. History will not forgive silence in moments of national peril,”
The former Anambra governor accused the current political leadership of state capture, economic mismanagement and systematic erosion of democratic values.
Obi said Nigeria had reached a critical turning point and could no longer afford politics of division.
“As the year 2025 ends today, we stand on the threshold of a new beginning. For Nigeria, moments of profound national challenge demand clarity of purpose and decisive action. That moment is now,” he said.
He described Nigeria as a nation in deep distress, citing widespread poverty, unemployment and insecurity, saying, “With over 130 million Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty and more than 80 million youths unemployed, our people are in persistent agony. This is not the destiny God bequeathed to over 220 million Nigerians.
“Nigeria is looted into poverty”
He rejected claims that Nigeria’s crisis was inevitable, arguing that leadership failure, not lack of resources, was responsible.
“As a nation, we are not poor; we are looted into poverty. Nigeria is not broken; Nigeria is severely betrayed. The average Nigerian is not lazy or incompetent, but the system is rigged to reward mediocrity and recycle failure,” he said.
He accused the political elite of deliberately exploiting ethnic and religious divisions to remain in power.
“Their expertise lies in creating more divisions to sustain themselves in office. With little or no interest in unity or inclusive development,” he said.
Obi issued a strong warning over the integrity of future elections, insisting that reforms of the electoral system were non-negotiable.
He cautioned against attempts to rig the 2027 general elections.
