Editor
Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on Sunday announced his defection to the National Democracy Congress, NDC, alongside former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and Senator Seriake Dickson, in what he described as a new coalition to “defend, restore and sustain democracy” ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Obi said the move was a direct response to alleged efforts by the Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress, APC, to block him from the 2027 ballot.
Join our WhatsApp Channel“The message was blatantly clear; the APC government is unequivocally determined to ensure that Peter Obi does not have any political party to be on the ballot in 2027 election,” Obi said.
Exit from LP, NNPP, ADC
Obi disclosed that “persisting denial of justice and endless intrusion” by the APC government compelled him to leave the Labour Party, “a party I truly love and cherish.” He claimed that shortly after his exit, Kwankwaso was also forced out of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, and then the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
“We left ADC because the system that made us to leave LP and NNPP has found its way into the ADC leading to intensive litigations and other crises,” he said.
The former Anambra governor accused the ruling party of sabotaging earlier attempts by opposition figures to build a united platform to challenge the Tinubu administration.
“Few years ago, we set out together to provide a platform to rescue, restore and sustain prosperity and democracy from the Bola Tinubu’s led APC government. Our individual and joint effort has been sabotaged. Every effort has been made to truncate our mission,” Obi stated.
‘Era of grab it and run is over’
Obi insisted that the new coalition was “undeterred” and would resist what he called an attempt to destroy Nigeria’s democracy.
“They will not be allowed to destroy democracy and deny Nigerians the right and the freedom to choose their desired leaders. The era of ‘grab it and run’ is over,” he declared.
He maintained that democracy remains the key to national unity, sustainable growth, and Nigeria’s restoration to a “primacy position in Africa and comity of nations.”
New alignment under NDC
Obi said the group had “decided to join the National Democracy Congress, NDC, in our determination to rescue Nigeria,” and thanked Dickson and other NDC leaders for “welcoming us.” He added, “We are now hoping they will not follow us to NDC,” in an apparent reference to alleged infiltration of his previous parties.
According to him, the coalition is anchored on a single message: “A new and productive Nigeria is Possible.”
“We are determined to ensure that plural democracy, where the people have the right to vote out an incompetent government, becomes our standard and culture,” Obi said.
He was flanked at the briefing by Kwankwaso, Dickson, and other unnamed “patriots.”
Context
The announcement comes amid deepening realignments within Nigeria’s opposition bloc as parties begin early positioning for 2027. The Labour Party and NNPP were the third and fourth best-performing parties in the 2023 presidential election. The ADC has been plagued by leadership tussles and court cases since 2022.
The APC and the Presidency had not responded to Obi’s allegations as of press time Sunday.
Obi ended his address with a call for support: “With determination, support of our fellow Nigerians and grace of God, a new and productive Nigeria that is inclusively and progressively very OK is Possible!”
