Strong indications have emerged that Peter Obi, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has concluded arrangements to formally join the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general election.
Multiple sources familiar with ongoing opposition coalition talks told BusinessDay that discussions surrounding Obi’s entry into the ADC have reached an advanced stage, with party structures already being adjusted to accommodate his political base and the broader Obidient movement.
The development was confirmed on Tuesday in Abuja by Sam Amadi, former Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and a close ally of Obi. According to Amadi, lessons from the 2023 general election and the prevailing national mood have made the case for a unified opposition platform increasingly compelling.
“There is now a stronger logic for convergence,” Amadi said, noting that fragmentation among opposition parties in 2023 weakened their overall electoral impact.
Investigations by BusinessDay reveal that Obi’s loyalists have already begun positioning themselves strategically within the ADC coalition. Party insiders point to the recent defection of Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory, and Nenadi Usman, former Finance Minister and co-chair of the Kaduna State Working Committee of the multiparty coalition, as signs that groundwork is being laid ahead of Obi’s formal move.
Obi’s anticipated entry into the ADC’s presidential race is expected to intensify competition at the party’s primaries, which may also feature former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Rivers State Governor and former Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi, alongside other political heavyweights.
For a growing number of opposition figures, the ADC is increasingly viewed as the most viable platform for building a broad-based alliance capable of challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
Amadi expressed confidence that the coalition could end the APC’s hold on power if unity and internal discipline are maintained. “If the forces converging within the ADC remain intact and focused, 2027 could mark a turning point in Nigeria’s political trajectory,” he said.
