Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has reportedly finalised arrangements to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and will formally declare his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election under the party’s platform at a rally in Enugu on Wednesday.

A senior ADC official in Abuja told DAILY GAZETTE that Obi has agreed to pitch his tent with the ADC after weeks of consultations between his team and the party leadership.

The official said preparations are in high gear for the event, which is expected to draw supporters, political figures and party faithful from across the South-East and beyond.

According to the source, Obi’s decision to align with the ADC followed intensive meetings with the party’s National Chairman, David Mark, where talks centred on the former Anambra governor’s vision for national leadership and the need for a credible platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The source added that about three weeks ago, the ADC leadership formally asked Obi to clarify his political intentions and consider joining the party to strengthen its national outlook.

Enugu was chosen for the announcement because of its symbolic status as the political nerve centre of the South-East, the source explained.

Supporters of Obi are already mobilising logistics and security arrangements to ensure the rally runs smoothly.

While no official communication has yet been received by the national leadership of the ADC, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, confirmed that consultations are ongoing.

“There is no formal announcement at this time,” Abdullahi said, adding that the party remains committed to due process in all engagements.

Similarly, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, said only Obi can clarify his political plans, refusing to detail any specifics regarding the imminent declaration.

On its part, the Labour Party’s National Working Committee, led by Julius Abure, has played down the defection rumours.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, said leadership transitions and defections are part of Nigeria’s political reality and should not be exaggerated.

Ifoh maintained that any decision by Obi would be a personal choice and not a reflection of internal instability within the Labour Party.

He urged party supporters to remain focused on organisational strengthening as the 2027 elections approach.

In related developments, the ADC has announced plans to hold its national convention in mid-2026 as part of efforts to reposition the party ahead of the general elections.

The party plans to ratify decisions taken by its National Executive Committee and elect its presidential flag bearer during the conventions as it intensifies grassroots mobilisation and nationwide restructuring.

Confusion has engulfed Nsukka following parallel and disputed elections that have produced multiple claimants to the position of President of the Nsukka Youth General Assembly (NYGA).

At least four individuals are currently laying claim to the youth presidency, deepening the leadership crisis within the organisation.

While one faction has presented Kenneth Nnamdi Eze as the duly elected president, another group has announced Oscar Ayogu as winner of its own exercise.

A third faction insists that Hon. Ugonna Everestus Nwodo emerged president, while an earlier election conducted by a group led by an Electoral Committee headed by Malachy Omeje declared Bonaventure Chigozie Omego as winner.

The dissolved Electoral Committee had earlier announced that a bye-election was held on Sunday in Nsukka in line with the NYGA constitution.

According to the committee, out of 925 registered voters, 235 were accredited and voted, with Bonaventure Omego polling 229 votes, while Kenneth Nnamdi Eze and Ugonna Everestus Nwodo recorded two and three votes respectively.

However, the Executive Council of the Nsukka Youth General Assembly promptly disowned that exercise, declaring it null, void and of no effect.

In a public disclaimer, the NYGA leadership stated that it neither authorised nor recognised any bye-election conducted in its name, stressing that the purported electoral committee had earlier been dissolved for non-compliance with established guidelines.

The leadership further disclosed that all aspirants earlier screened for the 2025 bye-election had been disqualified, insisting that no valid process had been approved, supervised or validated by the Assembly.

Despite the disclaimer, fresh confusion emerged as other factions announced separate outcomes, naming Kenneth Nnamdi Eze, Oscar Ayogu and Hon. Ugonna Nwodo as president through what were described as parallel elections, each conducted by different interest groups.

Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has called on the people of Remoland to deepen cooperation with their Ijebu counterparts in order to actualise the proposed Ijebu-Remo State, stressing that unity and peaceful coexistence are critical to the success of the aspiration.

Akpabio made the call at the 2025 Remo Day celebration held at the Akarigbo Pavilion in Sagamu.

The event was themed “One People, Diverse Cultures, One Identity.”

Commending the Remo people for their industrious and enterprising nature, the Senate President noted that their culture of collaboration and strong industrial base would play a decisive role in the quest for a new state.

He urged the people to sustain peace and harmony, noting that Remoland is home to many hardworking industrialists, which accounts for the high concentration of industries in the area.

According to him, close cooperation between Remo and Ijebu communities would accelerate the realisation of Ijebu-Remo State, assuring that the National Assembly would lend its support to the process.

While declining to comment on the proposed location of the state capital, Akpabio said such a decision must ultimately favour a peaceful environment.

Beyond the cultural celebration, Akpabio described Remo Day as a platform for reflection, unity and strategic planning for community development.

He said his presence at the event underscored Nigeria’s unity across ethnic and cultural lines, adding that diversity should be embraced as a strength in nation-building.

The Senate President also expressed optimism that the country’s security challenges would soon be overcome, assuring Nigerians that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is working diligently to address insecurity.

He praised the President for taking bold decisions to reposition the nation despite prevailing challenges and pledged the Senate’s continued cooperation with the executive.

Akpabio further applauded Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, for infrastructural developments across the state, describing the Gateway International Airport as the best airport in Nigeria.

In his remarks, Governor Abiodun described Remoland as a land richly endowed with notable sons and daughters who have contributed significantly to the growth of Ogun State and the nation at large.

He said the large turnout at the event highlighted the power of culture in fostering unity, warning that societies that abandon their cultural roots risk losing their identity.

The governor listed major projects executed by his administration in Remoland, including the Sagamu–Iperu–Ode–Sapaade Road.

He also announced that international cargo operations would commence at the Gateway International Airport next month, noting that the development would boost logistics, create thousands of jobs and position Remo as a major agro-processing and export hub in West Africa.

Earlier, the Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, said Remo Day was established to celebrate, preserve and project Remo culture globally.

He noted that Remo indigenes have excelled in various fields of human endeavour and reaffirmed the people’s commitment to sustaining their cultural heritage.

Oba Ajayi also pledged Remo’s continued collaboration with relevant stakeholders toward the creation of the proposed Ijebu-Remo State and thanked Governor Abiodun for partnering with the community to construct the palace pavilion, which will host major cultural and civic events.

The second edition of Remo Day attracted dignitaries from across the country and featured colourful masquerade performances, cultural displays, homage-paying by age grades and associations, as well as the ceremonial unveiling of the palace pavilion.

Seventy-four Peoples Democratic Party candidates risk disqualification in the upcoming Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections due to unresolved leadership disputes within the party.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party has been entirely excluded from the contest, having no candidates on the final list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on September 22, 2025.

The FCT Area Council elections, slated for February 21, 2026, cover 68 elective positions, including six chairmanship seats and 62 councillorship positions across Abuja Municipal Area Council, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Abaji, and Kwali.

Although the PDP submitted a full slate of 74 candidates, 12 for chairmanship and vice-chairmanship positions and 62 for councillorship seats, the legitimacy of these nominations is now under legal challenge.

The Labour Party’s exclusion is linked to a prolonged leadership tussle between the Julius Abure-led faction and the Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee, supported by the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and Abia State Governor Alex Otti.

INEC has refused to recognise the national convention held in Nnewi, which re-elected Abure, citing the expiration of his tenure.

Despite a court order directing INEC to provide access codes for candidate submission, the commission has maintained that it only engages with leaders legally recognised, effectively leaving the LP without representation in the FCT elections.

Within the PDP, a leadership crisis has pitted the faction led by former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, elected as national chairman at the controversial convention in Ibadan on November 15–16—against a rival faction led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, backed by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

Both factions have suspended one another and filed multiple court cases over control of the party structure.

Legal experts warn that should the courts rule that the faction which conducted the PDP primaries was illegitimate, all nominations submitted under it, including chairmanship and councillorship candidates, could be nullified.

A similar scenario occurred in the 2019 general elections, when the Supreme Court invalidated APC votes in Zamfara State and PDP votes in Rivers State due to irregularities in candidate selection.

In the FCT context, such a ruling could eliminate all 74 PDP candidates, leaving the contest without representation from a major opposition party.

Auwal Rafsanjani, Chairman of the Transition Monitoring Group, cautioned that the exclusion of opposition parties risks voter apathy and a lopsided election.

“If parties fail to resolve their internal disputes, the ruling party may become the only viable option, reducing voter choice and discouraging participation. Politicians must resolve internal crises to ensure free and fair competition,” he said.

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, may soon pitch his tent with the African Democratic Congress as consultations intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.

A senior party official in Abuja told DAILY GAZETTE that Obi has concluded arrangements to formally align with the ADC and is expected to announce his decision at a rally planned for December 31 in Enugu, widely regarded as the political nerve centre of the South-East.

According to the source, preparations are already underway by Obi’s supporters and associates to facilitate the defection, although no formal notification has yet been received by the party leadership.

The official disclosed that about three weeks ago, the ADC leadership asked the former Anambra State governor to take a clear position on joining the party.

Subsequently, Obi reportedly met with the party’s National Chairman, David Mark, where discussions centred on reaffirming his commitment to the coalition.

The source said the party’s stance and internal consultations may have influenced Obi’s reported decision to finally align with the ADC.

Earlier this month, the party had publicly urged Obi to clarify his intentions after comments attributed to him described the ADC as unstable.

Speaking on the choice of Enugu for the anticipated declaration, the party official said the decision was symbolic rather than personal.

“Enugu is regarded as the political capital of the South-East. Obi is projecting himself as a regional figure, not just an Anambra politician,” the source explained.

However, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said there had been no official confirmation of Obi’s defection.

“There is no formal announcement at this time. What is happening is that consultations are still ongoing,” he said.

Similarly, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, declined to speak on the matter, insisting that only Obi could clarify his political plans.

Meanwhile, the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee of the Labour Party has played down reports of Obi’s imminent exit.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, said the leadership would not take a definitive position until Obi personally addresses the issue.

According to him, party defections remain a common feature of Nigeria’s political landscape and should not be overdramatized.

He said any decision by Obi to leave would be driven by personal political ambition rather than internal weaknesses within the Labour Party, adding that the party would continue to function and grow regardless.

While noting that the party bore no resentment, Ifoh said it would have been preferable for Obi to remain and resolve outstanding issues internally.

He urged the former presidential candidate to consider reconciliation with party leaders, but added that the party respected his right to make personal political choices.

ADC eyes convention, presidential ticket
In a related development, the ADC has announced plans to hold its national convention in mid-2026 as part of efforts to reposition the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

Abdullahi said the party was currently focused on grassroots mobilisation, expanding its membership base and strengthening internal structures nationwide.

He noted that 2026 would be a critical year for the party, particularly as the emergence of a presidential candidate would reshape its political momentum and national outlook.

According to him, the party intends to produce its presidential flag bearer by mid-year, a move expected to stimulate interest in other elective positions, including governorship contests.

Abdullahi added that the ADC plans to hold two conventions in 2026, one to ratify decisions already taken by the National Executive Committee and another to elect the party’s presidential candidate.

He said while discussions on dates were still ongoing, preparations were firmly underway.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has signalled a return to intense political activity from January 2026, amid indications of renewed tension between him and Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

Although Wike did not mention any individual by name, his comments suggested that the understanding earlier reached between his political camp and that of the Rivers governor may be under strain following the most recent peace agreement.

The former Rivers State governor made the remarks on Saturday while addressing political stakeholders and supporters in Ahoada East, shortly after a thanksgiving service organised by former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and South-South Development Commission leader, Chibudom Nwuche.

According to Wike, he and his allies would “resume full politics” in January, stressing that political agreements must be honoured without deviation.

“You know me. An agreement is an agreement. If there is something you cannot do, do not say it. Nobody can use us to say yes today and turn around tomorrow,” he said.

Wike questioned the sudden emergence of political actors loudly professing loyalty to President Bola Tinubu, particularly those now chanting the slogan, “On your mandate we stand.”

He asked where such voices were during the uncertainty of the 2023 general elections.

He reassured his supporters that there was no cause for concern, urging them to remain steadfast and calm, while insisting that his camp had never wavered in its support for President Tinubu.

Reflecting on the 2023 elections, Wike recalled that many politicians were reluctant to openly back Tinubu at a critical moment, noting that his political group took a firm position despite the risks involved.

“In politics, you must take a decision, whether good or bad. We took that decision and stood firm,” he said.

The FCT minister described himself as one of the most criticised politicians in the country after the President, attributing the attacks to his insistence on fidelity to political agreements.

According to him, some politicians have turned criticism of his person into a strategy for personal or financial gain, claiming that attacking him has become a shortcut to relevance.

Wike assured his supporters that their loyalty and sacrifices would not go unrewarded, adding that decisions taken by his political camp were driven by conviction rather than convenience.

“You stood firm even when you were not empowered. Remain strong. At the right time, we will speak,” he said, thanking his supporters for remaining loyal despite provocations.

He concluded by urging calm, insisting that “nothing is happening” and that all political developments would be addressed at the appropriate time.

Earlier, Nwuche commended Wike for what he described as his developmental contributions to the Ekpeye Kingdom, particularly the elevation of traditional stools in the area.

He noted that the kingdom now has seven first-class stools, compared to just one previously, attributing the change to Wike’s leadership.

Nwuche also advised leaders to use power responsibly and in the interest of the people, adding that Wike’s supporters remained loyal because they had benefited from his leadership.