Peter Obi, the Labour Party's presidential candidate in 2023, has officially defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a coalition-backed party.

Obi announced his defection in Enugu on Wednesday, December 31, 2025.

The former governor of Anambra State stated that his move ahead of the 2027 election is aimed at transforming and rescuing Nigeria.

“We are ending this year with the hope that in 2026 we will begin a rescue journey,” Obi declared.

“We will resist rigging of election by every lawful means in 2027,” he added.

Obi is expected to vie for the ADC presidential ticket or be the running mate of former Vice President Atiku. Both men ran together in 2019, losing to former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Atiku and Obi later parted ways in 2023 to contest the presidential election on different platforms, losing to Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Reacting to Obi's defection, presidential spokesperson Daniel Bwala recalled the numerous political parties the former governor had defected to in the past.

He shared on X, "The nomadic politician is continuing his wild goose chase by joining the structure of criminality.

"PDP- APGA- PDP- Labour- ADC, the wondering spirit still going to end up as a second fiddle or campaign DG.

"That is how your political trajectory would be if your adviser is a mad man."

ASA