Prosper Okoye
Former Nigerian presidential candidate Peter Obi has formally registered as a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and said he would challenge the country’s new electoral law in court, alleging it could undermine the credibility of the 2027 elections.
Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, completed his registration in his hometown of Agulu in Anambra State on Saturday.
Speaking after registering, the former Anambra governor said he planned to challenge provisions of the recently passed Electoral Act 2026, which he claimed were designed to manipulate the outcome of the 2027 general elections.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelHe accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of overstepping its constitutional mandate by attempting to influence how political parties conduct their internal processes.
“INEC has no reason to assume processes in how political parties elect their candidates. Its responsibility is to conduct elections,” Obi said.
He compared the electoral body to a referee whose role should be limited to officiating elections rather than determining how parties select their candidates.
Obi further alleged that provisions of the new law appeared intended to favour the ruling party in the next general election.
“All the laws being hurriedly created are simply aimed at enabling the ruling party to snatch the 2027 presidential election,” he said.
The former presidential contender also called on supporters to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the polls, urging eligible voters to register and participate in the electoral process.
Obi said opposition groups across the country were discussing ways to build a stronger alliance ahead of the next elections, adding that the South-East region was working with other parts of Nigeria to strengthen opposition unity.
Officials of the ADC welcomed his registration, describing it as an important development for the party as it prepares for future elections.
ADC National Organising Secretary Chinedu Idigo said the party’s membership registration would be conducted both online and physically across the country, while its candidates would be selected through a direct primary system.
Also speaking at the event, the party’s candidate in the 2025 Anambra governorship election, John Nwosu, described Obi’s move as a milestone and urged members to remain united ahead of upcoming electoral contests.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
