The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has formally registered as a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Obi completed his registration on Saturday in his hometown of Agulu in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Speaking during the exercise, the former governor of Anambra said he plans to challenge the recently enacted Electoral Act 2026 in court, alleging that some of its provisions could undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
He claimed that aspects of the law appear designed to manipulate the electoral process and benefit the ruling party.
Obi also criticised the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accusing the electoral body of attempting to interfere in the internal affairs of political parties.
According to him, the commission should focus on conducting credible elections rather than dictating how political parties organise their candidate selection processes.
“I am going to challenge the decision in court; INEC has no reason to assume processes in how political parties elect their candidates. Its responsibility is to conduct elections.
“You don’t tell a team how to prepare its players before a match. As a referee, INEC’s role is to officiate, not to determine which players a team should field,” he said.
The former presidential candidate further alleged that the rush to pass new electoral laws is aimed at influencing the outcome of the 2027 polls.
“All the laws being hurriedly created are simply aimed at enabling the ruling party to snatch the 2027 presidential election and run away with it,” he said.
Obi urged supporters and party members to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the next general elections, particularly in Anambra.
“We have about 2.8 million registered voters in Anambra, and I urge everyone to go to the grassroots and mobilise people to register and be ready to vote,” he added.
He also emphasised the importance of cooperation among opposition parties, saying the South-East is already engaging other regions in discussions aimed at building a stronger political alliance before the next elections.
“In this journey of 2027, we in the South-East are working as a family and discussing with other regions.
“The goal is to unite the opposition and create a new Nigeria. The South-East is part of Nigeria and no region is more Nigerian than the South-East,” he said.
Obi also criticised Nigeria’s economic condition, saying the country’s poverty levels are unacceptable given its natural resources.
“We cannot continue in an era where Nigeria has become one of the worst five countries in the world and the poverty capital of the world,” he said.
“We are committed to building a Nigeria where the child of a nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody.”
Also speaking at the event, Chinedu Idigo, national organising secretary of the ADC, said the party’s membership registration will be conducted both online and physically.
He encouraged prospective members to complete their registration online before visiting designated centres to obtain their membership cards.
Idigo also disclosed that the party plans to adopt a direct primary system in selecting candidates for future elections and has already distributed about 50,000 membership cards to Anambra, with more expected.
Meanwhile, John Nwosu, the ADC candidate in the November 8, 2025 Anambra governorship election, described Obi’s registration as a major boost for the party.
“This is a day of joy. The journey of Obi to the presidency begins today,” Nwosu said.
He urged party members to remain united and avoid internal conflicts as preparations begin for future elections.
Reflecting on the 2023 elections, Nwosu noted that challenges such as vote buying, voter apathy, and inadequate polling agents affected the party’s performance, adding that measures are being put in place to address those issues ahead of the next polls.
