Former Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has formally defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), calling on Nigerians and opposition forces to unite under a broad national coalition ahead of the 2027 polls.

Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, announced his defection on Wednesday at the Nike Lake Resort, Enugu, during a New Year address in which he accused the current political leadership of state capture, economic mismanagement and the systematic erosion of democratic values.

Describing his decision as one driven by patriotism and national interest, Obi urged his political associates, members of the Obidient Movement and opposition leaders nationwide to rally under the ADC.

“This decision is guided solely by patriotism and national interest. I now 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,” he said.

Obi said Nigeria had reached a critical turning point and could no longer afford politics rooted in 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 stated.

He painted a grim picture of the country’s condition, citing widespread poverty, unemployment and insecurity. According to him, more than 130 million Nigerians are living in multidimensional poverty, while over 80 million youths are unemployed.

“This is not the destiny God bequeathed to over 220 million Nigerians,” Obi said.

Rejecting claims that Nigeria’s challenges are inevitable, Obi blamed leadership failure rather than a lack of resources.

“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 also accused the political elite of exploiting ethnic and religious divisions to retain power. “Their expertise lies in creating more divisions to sustain themselves in office, with little or no interest in unity or inclusive development,” he added.

Obi warned that the credibility of future elections must be protected, insisting that electoral reforms were non-negotiable, and cautioned against any attempt to rig the 2027 general elections.

Drawing from his international engagements, Obi compared Nigeria’s development path with that of countries that have achieved rapid growth through unity and effective leadership. He cited Indonesia as an example, noting that while both countries started with similar characteristics, Indonesia has grown into a trillion-dollar economy, whereas Nigeria is grappling with de-industrialisation, corruption and deepening poverty.

He also criticised the Federal Government’s tax reforms, describing them as anti-people and economically counterproductive. Obi described reports of a forged tax law as a dangerous precedent, saying, “A tax regime founded on forgery cannot build trust, unity or prosperity.”

Positioning his defection as a strategic move toward 2027, Obi said opposition unity was essential to defeating what he described as “a government that thrives on division and propaganda.”