Former Anambra State governor Peter Obi has confirmed he will contest the 2027 presidential election under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), formally aligning his political future with the party at a supporters’ conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The declaration came at a gathering of the Obidient Movement focused on integrating Obi’s support base into ADC structures ahead of the next election cycle. Speakers at the event described the move as the start of a broader mobilisation drive targeting young voters and reform-minded constituencies.
Explaining his departure from the Labour Party, Obi claimed the party faced institutional recognition obstacles tied to his continued membership. He alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would not validate any Labour Party leadership arrangement while he remained within it, and further suggested there was political resistance to his appearance on a future ballot.
Obi told supporters he remained determined to run regardless of barriers, adding that result transmission controversies seen in past elections would not deter his camp going forward.
Turning to economic issues, the former governor criticised the scale and timeline of recent government borrowing, arguing that repayment schedules extending into the mid-century period could shift the burden to future administrations and taxpayers. He positioned fiscal discipline and social-sector investment as central pillars of his proposed agenda.
He said a government led by him would channel priority funding into education and healthcare, linking both sectors directly to productivity, security, and poverty reduction. On anti-corruption, Obi argued that ethical distance between public office holders and state benefits is a critical starting point, citing his time in office as governor as an example of personal restraint in the use of state-linked privileges and land allocations.
Leaders of the Obidient Movement used the event to call for early grassroots organisation ahead of 2027. Global coordinator Dr Tanko Yunusa urged supporters to consolidate within ADC and begin structured voter outreach, while Akwa Ibom state coordinator Dr Ben Smith framed the coming election as a choice about generational opportunity, employment, and social stability rather than personalities.
As of the time of reporting, INEC had not issued a formal response to Obi’s claim regarding party leadership recognition.
