By Adesakin Adefemi
Peter Obi’s short stint with the African Democratic Congress ended on Sunday, as the former presidential candidate announced his resignation and accused state actors of engineering crises to weaken opposition parties.
In a statement posted on his X platform, Obi said he was leaving not because of disputes with ADC National Chairman David Mark or former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, but due to structural dysfunction and external interference that have made productive politics impossible.
“This is not about individuals,” Obi wrote. He maintained respect for ADC’s leadership, but said the party had become consumed by court battles, factional suspicion, and distractions that mirror the turmoil that earlier pushed him out of the Labour Party.
Obi was direct in his allegation: “The same Nigerian state and its agents that created unnecessary crises and hostility within the Labour Party that forced me to leave now appear to be finding their way into the ADC.” The claim raises fresh questions about the independence of political parties ahead of 2027.
He argued that the infighting is costly for Nigerians. While parties trade blame internally, he said, citizens continue to face economic hardship, insecurity, and failing public services. “Political parties should be vehicles for solutions, not breeding grounds for endless infighting,” Obi stated.
The former Anambra governor described a political culture that punishes decency. According to him, humility and integrity are often mistaken for weakness, and those who try to serve sincerely are misrepresented or sidelined. “Even within spaces where one labours sincerely, one is sometimes treated like an outsider,” he noted.
Obi said his team had frequently been scapegoated despite driving issue-based campaigns and party building efforts. The pattern, he suggested, discourages competent people from participating in politics and leaves the field to those who thrive on chaos.
He reiterated that his goal is not personal ambition. “I am not desperate to be President, Vice President, or Senate President. I am desperate to see a society that works for all,” Obi wrote, doubling down on his message of governance over titles.
Although out of the ADC, Obi insisted he is not retreating from politics. He pledged to keep working toward a coalition built on justice, compassion, and equal opportunity, closing with his familiar refrain: “A new Nigeria is possible.”
His departure throws fresh uncertainty into opposition realignments. The ADC had been courting key figures to position itself as a third force for 2027. As of Sunday evening, the party had not issued an official response, but insiders said emergency consultations were underway to contain the fallout.
