Peter Obi, the Labour Party's 2023 presidential candidate, officially announced his defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Wednesday, December 31, in Enugu. This move, made alongside other prominent political leaders from the South-East geopolitical zone, is primarily aimed at "transforming and rescuing Nigeria" from what Obi described as the "poor governance of the All Progressives Congress (APC)." Obi declared that the opposition party would deploy lawful and legitimate means to resist any attempts to rig the 2027 general elections. In his address, he set a hopeful tone, stating, "As the year 2024 ends today, we stand on the threshold of a new year, which we hope will mark the beginning of Nigeria’s long-awaited socio-economic transformation. For Nigeria, that moment of decisive action is now."

The African Democratic Congress expressed its delight at Obi's decision, extending a warm welcome and affirming his equal standing within the party. Complementing this, Aisha Yesufu, co-convener of the BringBackOurGirls Movement, publicly declared her intention to become a card-carrying member of the ADC in solidarity with Obi. Yesufu, who noted she had never previously joined any political party, called upon well-meaning Nigerians to unite and reclaim the country by the 2027 elections, envisioning a great nation where "the son of a nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody."

In a contrasting development, Abia State Governor Alex Otti, also a member of the Labour Party, firmly dismissed any claims that he would be joining Peter Obi in his defection. Speaking on Tuesday, December 30, Governor Otti clarified that he had joined the Labour Party prior to Obi, and therefore, their political paths were distinct in this regard. While he extended his blessings to Obi for his decision to leave the Labour Party, Otti unequivocally stated his commitment to remaining with the party that brought him to power. He pledged to "continue the struggle to rescue Labour party" and indicated that exploring other political options would only be considered if efforts to reposition the Labour Party proved unsuccessful. Otti also underscored his resolve not to be sidetracked by external calls, such as those from the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, urging him to join the All Progressives Congress.

Obi articulated a grave assessment of Nigeria's current condition, characterizing it as "a nation in grave distress." He highlighted pervasive issues such as insecurity, alarming rates of unemployment affecting over 80 million youths, and widespread institutional decay. With more than 130 million Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty, Obi asserted that the nation's struggles were not due to a lack of resources but rather to "leadership failure." He powerfully stated, "Nigeria is not poor, we are looted into poverty," and further contended that the country was "not collapsing under the weight of its people; Nigeria is suffocating under the weight of impunity and greed of her leadership."

The former presidential candidate emphatically called for urgent and comprehensive reforms of the entire electoral process, underscoring that "electoral integrity" is fundamental to national transformation. He issued a stern warning against any attempts to manipulate or rig the 2027 elections, declaring, "The will of the Nigerian people is sacrosanct and non-negotiable. Those plotting to subvert it in 2027 should rethink their actions." Obi also voiced strong criticism against the Federal Government’s fiscal policies, particularly raising concerns over reports of a "forged tax law," which he deemed detrimental to wealth creation and national unity. Drawing parallels with countries like Rwanda and Indonesia, Obi illustrated how competent leadership and national consensus could drive significant economic progress, lamenting Nigeria's declining GDP per capita since 1995 despite its potential.

Concluding his declaration, Peter Obi appealed to his vast network of supporters, known as the Obidient Movement, and other opposition parties across the country to align with the broad national coalition under the African Democratic Congress. He affirmed that this decision was guided purely by patriotism and the national interest. Obi dismissed any perceptions of the ruling elite's political invincibility, suggesting they had built "a house of cards with lies and errors," and asserted that democracy offered the opportunity to remove them through the ballot box. He urged Nigerians to resist despair, unite, and actively work to dismantle what he termed "the criminal enterprise destroying Nigeria," envisioning a future of a "new, united, productive and inclusive Nigeria." However, despite his commitment to the ADC coalition, Obi has reportedly raised concerns regarding the party’s "unresolved zoning arrangement" in anticipation of the 2027 elections, signaling ongoing internal deliberations.