Emmanuel Clement .
Presidential hopeful Peter Obi has announced his decision to leave the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general election, blaming worsening internal crises and what he described as a toxic political environment.
Obi made the announcement in a reflective statement posted on his official X handle on Sunday, where he lamented growing hostility, intimidation, insecurity and endless scrutiny within Nigeria’s political space.
The former Anambra State governor, who contested the 2023 presidential election on the Labour Party platform, said systems meant to protect citizens now often work against them, while those genuinely committed to public service face pressure both publicly and privately.
He stressed that his exit from the ADC was not due to personal disagreements with party leaders, including former Senate President David Mark or former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, whom he said he still respects.
According to Obi, forces responsible for creating crises in the Labour Party now appear to be infiltrating the ADC, leading to endless court cases, internal battles, suspicion and division.
“Let me state clearly: my decision to leave the ADC is not because our highly respected Chairman, Senator David Mark, treated me badly, nor because my leader and elder brother, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, or any other respected leaders did anything personally wrong to me. I will continue to respect them,” he stated.
He added that politics in Nigeria has become more about control, exclusion and personal interests rather than service and nation-building.
Obi also decried what he described as a culture where humility is seen as weakness, integrity is undervalued, and prudent management of public resources is wrongly criticised.
Despite leaving the ADC, Obi reaffirmed his commitment to Nigeria’s progress, saying his greatest ambition is not political office but building a just and functional country.
“I am not desperate to be President, Vice President, or Senate President. I am desperate to see a society that can console a mother whose child has been kidnapped or killed. I am desperate to see a Nigeria where people do not go to bed hungry,” he said.
His resignation comes amid speculation that he may align with a newly registered political platform, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), alongside former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso.
However, Obi did not disclose his next political destination, while Kwankwaso maintained that consultations among stakeholders are still ongoing.