Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (Nigeria), says Nigeria’s worsening socio-economic conditions have pushed the country among the world’s poorest nations despite its vast natural and human resources.
Obi said millions of Nigerians remain trapped in poverty, warning that the country’s economic situation continues to deteriorate.
“We cannot continue in an era where Nigeria has become one of the worst five countries in the world and the poverty capital of the world,” he said. “We are committed to building a Nigeria where the child of a nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody.”
He spoke Saturday after formally registering as a member of the African Democratic Congress in his hometown of Agulu, located in Anaocha Local Government Area.
The former governor of Anambra State also said he plans to challenge the newly enacted Electoral Act 2026 in court, arguing that some of its provisions could undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
According to Obi, the law could create opportunities for electoral manipulation and weaken public confidence in the electoral process.
He accused the Independent National Electoral Commission of exceeding its constitutional mandate by interfering in the internal affairs of political parties.
“I am going to challenge the decision in court. INEC has no reason to dictate how political parties elect their candidates. Its responsibility is to conduct elections,” Obi said.
“You don’t tell a team how to prepare its players before a match. As a referee, INEC’s role is to officiate, not to determine which players a team should field.”
Obi also alleged that provisions in the new law appear designed to favor the ruling party ahead of the next general election.
“All the laws being hurriedly created are simply aimed at enabling the ruling party to snatch the 2027 presidential election and run away with it,” he said.
He urged party members and supporters to intensify grassroots mobilization ahead of the 2027 polls.
“We have about 2.8 million registered voters in Anambra, and I urge everyone to go to the grassroots, mobilize people to register, and be ready to vote,” he said.
Obi also emphasized the need for stronger cooperation among opposition parties, noting that leaders in the South-East are working with counterparts in other regions to build a broader opposition alliance.
“The goal is to unite the opposition and create a new Nigeria. The South-East is part of Nigeria and no region is more Nigerian than the South-East,” he said.
Speaking on the party’s membership drive, the National Organizing Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Chinedu Idigo, said registration would be conducted both physically and online.
He urged prospective members to complete online registration before visiting designated centers to collect their membership cards. Idigo said about 50,000 membership cards had already been delivered to the state, with additional batches expected soon.
He added that the party plans to adopt the direct primary system to select candidates for future elections.
Also speaking, the party’s candidate in the Nov. 8, 2025, Anambra governorship election, John Nwosu, described Obi’s registration as a major milestone for the party.
“This is a day of joy. The journey of Obi to the presidency begins today,” Nwosu said.
He urged party members to remain united ahead of future elections. Reflecting on the 2023 general elections, Nwosu cited challenges such as vote buying, voter apathy and a shortage of polling agents as factors that affected the party’s performance, adding that efforts are underway to address those issues before future polls.
