Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has formally announced his decision to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the newly adopted political platform of the opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections. The announcement followed the coalition’s unveiling of the ADC as its unified party on Wednesday, with former Senate President David Mark named interim national chairman and ex-Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as interim national secretary.

Obi, in a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday, said his move to the ADC came after “deep reflection” on Nigeria’s current state. He emphasized the coalition’s commitment to securing “competent, capable, and compassionate” leadership in 2027, pledging to work with like-minded stakeholders to place Nigerians’ welfare at the heart of national governance. “No one group can change Nigeria alone,” Obi wrote. “To dismantle the structures that keep our people in poverty and insecurity, we must build bridges, not walls—even when those bridges are uneasy.”

The former Labour Party presidential candidate’s defection marks a significant realignment within the opposition, as various political blocs seek to consolidate against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the next election cycle. Obi’s emphasis on inclusivity and national unity reflects the coalition’s broader strategy to appeal across regional and political divides in a bid to challenge the status quo.

Earlier this week, Obi signaled his openness to serving a single presidential term if elected in 2027, aligning with Nigeria’s informal power rotation agreement. He maintained that any southern candidate who emerges victorious must be ready to exit office in May 2031 to uphold the spirit of the zoning principle and foster political equity. His stance has been interpreted as both a call for national balance and a signal of his intent to usher in structural reforms within a focused timeframe.