The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has formally registered as a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Anambra State, pledging to challenge Nigeria’s newly passed 2026 Electoral Act in court amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Obi completed his registration in his hometown of Agulu, in Anaocha Local Government Area during the launch of the party’s statewide membership mobilisation and revalidation exercise.
The programme was held in Awka and conducted simultaneously across the 21 local government areas of Anambra State, as part of efforts to strengthen the ADC’s grassroots presence ahead of the next national polls.
Speaking at the event, Obi said the ADC would focus on building a broad opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 election.
“We are committed to building a country where the child of a nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody.”
He also stressed that political leaders across Nigeria’s South-East region were working together while engaging stakeholders from other parts of the country to create a united opposition platform.
“On this journey, the South-East is working as a family,” Obi said. “We are discussing with other regions to unite the opposition and build a new Nigeria.”
Obi urged supporters to participate actively in the ADC’s membership drive by registering in their wards and mobilising new members across communities.
Party officials said the registration process would be conducted both online and physically across the state.
According to the party’s National Organising Secretary, Chinedu Idigo, tens of thousands of membership cards have already been distributed across local government areas, with additional cards expected.
The Chairman of the Anambra State Registration Committee, Ben Nwosu, described the exercise as a “task force operation” aimed at rapidly expanding the party’s grassroots structure.
Several political figures also registered during the exercise, including Senator Victor Umeh, who represents Anambra Central in Nigeria’s Senate, and former senator Ben Obi.
Speaking at the event, Ben Obi said the party’s immediate goal was to foster unity among members and build the political momentum needed for future elections.
“We all have one goal,” he said. “That goal is to ensure success in the coming elections.”
ADC leaders also used the occasion to call for stronger mobilisation ahead of Nigeria’s next general election, while reflecting on challenges faced in previous contests, including voter apathy, vote buying and inadequate polling agents.
Obi, who has declared his intention to run in the 2027 presidential election, said he would not be discouraged by political pressure or by the dominance of the ruling All Progressives Congress across many Nigerian states.
“I will not be intimidated,” he said. “This is about building a better Nigeria.”