ADC Faction Rejects Peter Obi’s Membership, Cites Procedural Breach

A faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by its National Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe, has stated that the recent membership registration of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi is invalid.

The group, which claims to be the party’s authentic national leadership, made the clarification on Thursday, distancing itself from an event in Enugu where Obi announced his move to the ADC.

On Wednesday, Obi had called for a broad coalition of opposition forces to “rescue Nigeria” during a defection ceremony at the Nike Lake Resort in Enugu State. He was reportedly registered at the party’s zonal office in the state.

In a statement, Gombe’s faction emphasized that the ADC operates on strict constitutional order. It stated that the party’s rules require all new members to register at their respective ward levels, not at zonal or national offices.

“The process of registering with the ADC is clearly outlined… Prospective members must register at their respective ward levels,” Gombe said. “Any registration carried out contrary to this provision is considered irregular and invalid.”

The faction announced it is investigating the Enugu registration exercise and urged the public to disregard claims of alternative registration channels.

This development follows a statement from the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee of the Labour Party, which described Obi’s departure as a “liberation.” The LP’s spokesperson expressed regret over fielding Obi as its presidential candidate in 2023.

Attempts to reach the spokesman for a rival ADC leadership faction, associated with David Mark, were unsuccessful at the time of reporting. The situation highlights ongoing divisions within some of Nigeria’s political parties.