Obi to Decide on ADC Membership After Anambra Election, Says Obidient Movement

The Obidient Movement has said Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, will decide on whether to fully join the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after the November 8 Anambra governorship election.

National President of the movement, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, disclosed this in an interview with the media on Sunday. He was reacting to a call by ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, urging coalition leaders — including Obi and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar — to resign from their parties and register with the ADC.

Tanko explained that the ADC had granted Obi a waiver to weigh his options and stressed that Obi would not be forced into abandoning the Labour Party prematurely.

“The waiver still stands for us. They made the announcement but didn’t change it. If other people are joining them, it is okay. Very soon, our principal will make his position known,” Tanko said.

“We agreed it would be after the Anambra November election, which has not taken place yet. After all, people, including the media, saw us campaigning for Moghalu in Anambra.

So, there is no way we could jettison it until we finish that election. Besides, the ADC didn’t give any ultimatum. Obi can only make his position known after the Anambra election. But presently, he is out of the country delivering a paper.”

Tanko had earlier criticised the ADC’s directive compelling opposition leaders to abandon their platforms ahead of 2027.

In a follow-up statement on Friday, he emphasised that Obi would not be pressured into hasty decisions.

“Obi is not desperate to be President of Nigeria. His ultimate mission is to see Nigeria work — to lift people out of poverty, to improve the economy, education, healthcare, and security.

These were the reasons he joined the coalition in the first place, targeted towards good governance, which are the core values of the Obidient Movement,” he said.

The group also questioned why the ADC appeared to be revising previously adopted resolutions on zoning and sharing of principal offices.

“While we remain fully committed to the vision and acknowledge the adoption of the ADC as the coalition platform, it is on record that Obi aligned with the coalition’s position after the Anambra governorship poll, extending to the 2027 elections. This adoption and pronouncement were made publicly by the party.

“We are therefore concerned as to why the resolution is now being altered midway through the agreement. Obi, as a leader with a broad constituency, has always taken time to consult widely before making major political decisions.

“He did so before joining the coalition, and he must also do so before responding to any ultimatum,” Tanko added.