A former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, is set to formally join the African Democratic Congress amid ongoing consultations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
A principal official of the party in Abuja told our correspondent that Obi had concluded plans to join the party and hold a declaration rally in Enugu, the political capital of the South-East, on December 31.
According to the official, Obi’s supporters and loyalists have begun arrangements for the defection.
The source disclosed that Obi, after the ADC asked him to make up his mind on joining the party about three weeks ago, met with the National Chairman of the party, David Mark, to renew his allegiance to the coalition.
He said the party’s position might have convinced the former Anambra State governor to finally decide to join the ADC.
On December 7, the ADC, while reacting to a statement credited to Obi in which he described the party as unstable, told the presidential hopeful to make up his mind on whether or not to join the coalition.
Speaking wih our correspondent, the party source said, “We are aware that Peter Obi is making plans to declare for the ADC on December 31 in Enugu. Although he has yet to formally inform the party, the plans are genuine.”
Asked why Obi would prefer to declare for the coalition in Enugu instead of Anambra, his home state, the party official said, “Enugu is the political capital of the South-East. Obi is representing the region, not just his state. That must have informed his decision.”
But the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said he could not confirm Obi’s planned defection.
“The point is that there is no official announcement yet. But consultations are ongoing,” he said.
Similarly, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, declined to comment directly on the matter, insisting that only Obi could speak on it.
But the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee of the Labour Party has downplayed Obi’s planned defection.
The National Publicity Secretary of the LP, Obiora Ifoh, in an interview with our correspondent , said the party would refrain from making any definitive pronouncement on the matter until Obi personally speaks on it.
He said, “We cannot fully comment on that until we hear from Obi. As we normally say, anybody can defect from anywhere to anywhere. It is normal in Nigerian politics. Labour Party doesn’t see it as a big deal.”
According to Ifoh, any decision by Obi to leave the party would be driven by personal ambition rather than institutional failure, adding that the Labour Party would continue to thrive regardless.
While reiterating that the party harboured no ill feelings, the LP spokesman said it would have been preferable for Obi to remain within the fold and work through any disagreements internally.
He said, “But the wisest thing for him to do is to stay back and work with the party that gave him the spread he got in 2023. He should try to reconcile with the party leadership and move on from there. But if he prefers to jump from one party to another, we wish him all the best.”
ADC plans convention to pick presidential candidate
Meanwhile, the ADC will hold its national convention mid-2026 as part of broader efforts to reposition the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party spokesman, Abdullahi, who disclosed this to one of our correspondents on Saturday, said the party was currently focused on nationwide mobilisation, membership expansion and internal consolidation.
He said the immediate priority of the party was to build a “solid organisational framework” across the country, stressing that ongoing membership registration would form the foundation for future congresses and conventions.
He explained that 2026 would be a defining year for the party, particularly as preparations for the selection of a presidential candidate would significantly alter the political landscape and energise party activities nationwide.
He said, “Don’t forget that by June or July, at the latest, we must have a presidential candidate. That will also add to the momentum and redraw the political dynamic.
“Once a presidential candidate emerges and you see people also coming up to contest the governorship election, it will change the momentum,” he stated.
According to him, the current pace of political activity within the party should not be mistaken for a lack of preparedness, as election-year dynamics typically trigger heightened engagement.
On whether a specific date had been fixed for the ADC’s national convention, Abdullahi said discussions were ongoing but clarified that the party planned to hold two conventions in 2026.
“We will have the first convention to ratify the decisions that the NEC has taken this year. We will have another one to decide our next presidential candidate. That will come towards the middle of the year. But I cannot give you a definite date for now,” he said.
The Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Ali Isa, on Tuesday, resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party, citing internal crisis and alleged undemocratic practices within the party.
In a resignation letter April 14, 2026, and addressed to the Chairman of Kindiyo Ward in Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State, Isa said his decision takes immediate effect.
He stated that his exit was “compelled by the way and manner some undemocratic forces have hijacked the party for reasons that are contrary to the founding principles and philosophy of the party, which created a factional leadership.”
The lawmaker, who represents Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency, said he took the decision after wide consultations with key stakeholders.
“After a series of rigorous consultations with my family, political associates, friends, and relevant stakeholders, I have arrived at the conclusion that the path to my political future, as well as the political future of the great people who gave me their mandate, lies outside the PDP,” he said.
Isa added that his priority remains the welfare and political future of his constituents, noting that they deserve a more viable platform.
“It is my firm belief that the people of my constituency deserve a platform on which their interests and political future will be better guaranteed,” he stated.
He, however, thanked the PDP for the opportunity to serve.
“I wish to sincerely thank the leadership and membership of the party for giving me the platform on which the people of Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency gave me the wonderful opportunity to represent them at the National Assembly. I will ever remain grateful and wish you all the best,” he added.
Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, Ali Ndume, has said Nigeria’s insecurity can be decisively tackled within six months if the federal government shows sufficient commitment.
Ndume made the assertion on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he expressed concern over renewed violence in the North-East.
According to the lawmaker, ending insecurity requires decisive action, improved military capacity and strong political will.
He said, “It is not about complaining. It is not about asking somebody like me, as a senator, to say why these things. I always believe that if the President and the Federal Government of Nigeria are serious about this, we can end this thing (insecurity) in six months.
“All we need is to train our soldiers, equip them, arm them very well, and then motivate them.”
Ndume also decried the continued loss of military personnel, including senior officers, describing the trend as alarming and indicative of deeper operational challenges. He added that the army is not sufficiently equipped and the morale is down.
Our correspondent had reported that Brigadier General Oseni Braimah was killed on April 9, 2026, in a midnight attack by terrorists on the 29 Task Force Brigade Headquarters in Benisheikh, Borno State. Also on Monday, a colonel and six soldiers were killed by Boko Haram insurgents the state.
The senator further blamed the worsening security situation on inconsistent implementation of strategies, urging authorities to match words with action.
“We have to be very serious about this matter; we have to walk the talk,” he said.
On foreign support, Ndume emphasised the need for intelligence, technology and specialised expertise rather than reliance on external forces. He noted that Nigeria lacks adequate drone capacity and called for increased deployment of technology-driven solutions, citing examples from Burkina Faso.
“We have some capable hands on the ground; all they need is equipment, ammunition and motivation. We don’t have enough drones.
“Look at what Burkina Faso is doing; it is technology. We can use it to finish or minimise this within the shortest possible time. If we deploy drones, we have our youths that are specialists and designing it.
“In Borno, if you deploy surveillance cameras, you can see everything that is happening. In these days, you can put up surveillance cameras that can go 100 metres. Once we can escalate our military assets in Borno and everywhere, that will go a long way to reduce our problem.”
Ndume also commended Babagana Zulum for his efforts in stabilising parts of Borno State, noting that the situation would have been worse without his interventions.
“If not for the efforts of Prof Babagana Zulum (the governor) in complementing the efforts of the military in the state, Borno State would have gone down,” he said.
The leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by former Senate President David Mark, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to overturn a decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that removed key party officials from its records.
INEC had, on April 1, deleted the names of Mark as National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary from its official website and portal, a move that has deepened the party’s internal crisis.
In a motion filed on April 7 by his counsel, Sulaiman Usman (SAN), Mark urged Justice Emeka Nwite to grant a mandatory injunction compelling INEC to restore the names of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) members pending the determination of the substantive suit.
He also asked the court to set aside INEC’s refusal to monitor or attend the ADC’s congresses and convention, arguing that such actions undermine the party’s operations
Specifically, Mark is seeking an order directing INEC to immediately reinstate and maintain the names of himself, Aregbesola, and other members of the National Executive Committee in its official records. He further requested that the court restrain the electoral body from recognising or acting on any rival leadership claims until the case is resolved.
The application follows a March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal in a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe. Mark’s legal team argued that the appellate court had ordered all parties to maintain the “status quo ante bellum”—the last uncontested state of affairs before the dispute began.
According to Usman, as of September 2, 2025, when the suit was instituted, Mark was the duly recognised National Chairman of the party, and the leadership structure in question was already in place.
He added that the plaintiff had resigned from his previous position and no longer held any role within the ADC at the time, insisting that INEC’s actions disrupted an already established leadership order.
The court is expected to determine whether to grant the interim reliefs while the substantive case continues.