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2027: Obi, Obidient Movement set to join ADC
Ahead of the 2027 general election, strong indications have emerged that Peter Obi, the former Labour Party presidential candidate has concluded arrangements to move fully into the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to pursue his presidential ambition.
Multiple sources familiar with the evolving opposition coalition told BusinessDay that discussions around Obi’s formal entry into the ADC have advanced significantly, with party structures already aligning to accommodate his political base and the wider Obidient movement.
The development was confirmed on Tuesday in an exclusive chat with BusinessDay in Abuja by Sam Amadi, former chairman of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and one of Obi’s close allies.
According to Amadi, the logic of a unified opposition platform has become compelling in the wake of lessons learnt from the 2023 election and the prevailing national mood.
It was gathered that Peter Obi’s loyalists have already begun taking strategic positions within the ADC coalition. Party insiders point to the recent defection of Ireti Kingibe, the senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, and Nenadi Usman, who co-chairs the Kaduna State Working Committee of the multiparty coalition, as evidence that groundwork is being laid ahead of Obi’s expected formal move.
Obi’s anticipated entrance into the ADC’s presidential contest is expected to heighten the stakes at primaries that could also feature Atiku Abubakar, former vice president, Rotimi Amaechi, former Rivers State governor and ex-transport minister, and other heavyweights.
For many opposition figures, the ADC is increasingly viewed as the most viable vehicle for presenting a united front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
Amadi said the combination of political forces gathering within the ADC could end the APC’s hold on power by 2027 if the coalition remains intact and disciplined.
He said, “If they’re able to keep all their founding members of the coalition together, and communicate the message that resonate to ordinary Nigerians,” the ruling party could be defeated.
Reflecting on the 2023 election, Amadi said the energy that drove millions of young Nigerians to the polls under the Obidient banner has waned but is not extinguished.
“Nigerians came out in 2023, many of them were the so called obedients, and some of the young people who had faith that perhaps the promised electoral integrity would work. I guess many of them are discouraged, disappointed, but they can be brought back,” he said.
Amadi argued that rebuilding hope would depend on effective mobilisation, credible messaging and a more robust defence of votes. “And if they’re able to communicate and raise hope again, and INEC is better policed, and these guys also fight back against rigging, intimidation, with Tinubu now emerging dark act, using strategy of perhaps forcing, intimidating the opposition, I think they could defeat the government,” he said.
He noted that while many believed the opposition had a clear chance to defeat the APC in 2023, that opportunity was lost due to several factors, including divided opposition votes and widespread allegations of electoral manipulation.
According to him, 2027 presents another opening, provided opposition leaders prioritise unity over individual ambition. “But now, we have another opportunity. So, the first thing is to perhaps create a unified opposition. Not that there will be no other parties, but perhaps let the main politicians agree to come together and build up the ADC,” Amadi said.
He added that Obi’s expected entry would significantly boost the coalition’s prospects. “If Peter Obi comes on board, as he will likely come on board by the end of the year, then that increases the chances that they’re going to be successful,” he said.
Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC’s national publicity secretary, said the party is focused on strengthening its internal structures nationwide ahead of 2027.
Speaking exclusively with BusinessDay, Abdullahi said the immediate priority is organisational consolidation rather than zoning or ticket permutations. On whether the party has resolved the sensitive issue of zoning its national offices and presidential ticket, he simply said, “Those will come up later.”
Abdullahi disclosed that the party is inclined towards a consensus approach in selecting its presidential candidate but would not hesitate to conduct primaries if consensus proves elusive. “Right now, what we are doing is engineering the party’s structures and membership drive,” he said.
“For the presidential candidate, we are working on consensus. It is only when that fails that we can think of conducting primaries for the candidates to emerge.”
Within the ADC-led coalition, Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi and Peter Obi are widely regarded as frontrunners. However, the alliance has been sharply divided over which region should produce the presidential candidate.
During the chat, Abdullahi downplayed the tension, saying, “When we get to the bridge, we will know how to cross it.”
Peter Obi, has previously stated that he would serve only one term if elected president in 2027.
In the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party polled 6,984,520 votes, representing 29.07 percent of the total votes cast, to finish second. INEC results showed that Obi, running on the Labour Party platform, secured 6,101,533 votes, or 25.40 percent, winning 11 states, including Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory.
The Labour Party also won the Abia State governorship, 34 House of Representatives seats and seven senatorial seats.
Katchy Ononuju, a chieftain of the ADC, warned that Nigeria is drifting toward a one-party state but insisted the opposition would resist such a trend.
He said, “Already, the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), is scared that its position is under threats.” According to him, “The reactions we are getting from the ruling All Progressive Congress APC, is as a result of fears that the party is under threats due to failing economy, insecurity and hunger ravaging the country.”
Ononuju said pressure on opposition figures was part of a deliberate strategy. “Some of the intimidation, harassment and attacks being directed at the opposition, is part of the move to ensure that there is no strong opposition, because people like Peter Obi are part of the ADC coalition,” he said.
Umar Ardo, a supporter of Atiku Abubakar and a lecturer at the University of Maiduguri, said economic hardship and political discontent could undermine the APC’s grip on the North in 2027.
“No northern governor will be able to deliver the region to the APC in 2027,” Ardo stated, arguing that the ADC has emerged as the party to beat, citing what he described as a “mass exodus of politicians into the party, in the north west.” (BusinessDay)
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has disclosed that there are two main reasons a former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, is being detained by the commission.
It also revealed that legal action was taken against the Enugu-born politician after he failed to honour several invitations extended to him through a letter referenced ICPC/HC/CSTF/GUN/GBT/T.1/VOLV16, and dated 15 May 2026.
John Odey, the spokesman of the commission in a statement on Wednesday explained that the commission later approached Federal High Court, Abuja Division, with the suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1160/2026) in order to effect Nnaji’s arrest after his failure to honour invitation.
Nnaji was arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, when he boarded a private jet to Abuja.
Corroborating the development, the ICPC spokesman said Nnaji’s arrest was effected at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, upon his arrival where he was led to the commission’s custody immediately.
According to him, Nnaji is being probed on forgery of academic credentials, specifically concerning a degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and False National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Discharge Certificate, which was submitted during his ministerial screening process in 2023.
The statement read, “The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arrested the immediate past Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Hon. Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji (M), following the execution of a bench warrant issued by the Federal High Court of Nigeria.
“The arrest was effected on Wednesday, 1st July 2026 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, upon Mr. Nnaji’s arrival.
“He was apprehended with the assistance of the Department of State Services (DSS) and subsequently handed over to the ICPC for further investigation.
“The Commission had earlier extended formal invitations to the former minister through a letter referenced ICPC/HC/CSTF/GUN/GBT/T.1/VOLV16, dated 15 May 2026.
“The invitation notices were duly served to his known addresses in Abuja and Enugu, as well as via his electronic mail address.
“Despite service through multiple channels, Mr. Nnaji failed to appear for investigative interviews on the scheduled dates, necessitating further legal action.
“The legal action followed a court order granted by the Federal High Court in the Abuja Judicial Division (Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1160/2026).
“The order, issued on 11 June 2026, directed the ICPC to arrest the former minister to enable investigation into allegations bordering on:
“Forgery of academic credentials, specifically concerning a degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN); and “False National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Discharge Certificate, which was submitted during his ministerial screening process in 2023.
“Following the arrest, Mr. Nnaji has been taken into custody at the ICPC headquarters in Abuja, where investigations are expected to continue. The Commission assures the public that the matter will be pursued diligently in accordance with the law.”
The immediate past Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, was arrested on Wednesday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on arrival from Enugu via a chartered flight.
Authoritative sources at the airport confirmed the arrest to PREMIUM TIMES, saying Mr Nnaji would be handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for interrogation.
The reported arrest comes weeks after the Federal High Court reportedly granted the ICPC permission to arrest and investigate Nnaji over the allegations.
The court also authorised the anti-graft agency to declare him wanted through newspapers, social media platforms and other media channels after the commission alleged that he repeatedly failed to honour invitations for questioning.
According to the ICPC, its application to the court followed Nnaji’s alleged refusal to appear before investigators despite several invitations relating to the forgery allegations.
The case stems from a two-year investigation published by Premium Times in October last year, which alleged that Nnaji submitted forged University of Nigeria degree and National Youth Service Corps certificates during his ministerial screening and confirmation process in 2023.
The report alleged that the documents were presented to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Nigerian Senate, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the State Security Service.
According to the publication, Nnaji later acknowledged that the University of Nigeria did not issue him the degree certificate in question, a development the newspaper said corroborated its investigation.Newspapers
The former minister had previously denied the existence of the court order authorising his arrest, dismissing the publication as a “media trial.”
However, on June 18, he reportedly filed an appeal before the Court of Appeal, seeking to overturn the arrest order.
As of the time of filing this report, the ICPC had not issued an official statement confirming the reported arrest, while Nnaji’s legal team had yet to publicly respond to the latest development.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, restored the bail it had earlier granted to activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore.
Sowore is facing a two-count cybercrime charge filed against him by the Department of State Services (DSS) for calling President Bola Tinubu a “criminal” in a social media post.
Trial Justice Muhammed Umar, who had earlier granted the defendant bail on self-recognisance, on June 16 revoked the bail and issued a warrant for his arrest.
The order came after Sowore failed to appear before the court for the continuation of his trial, even though he wrote a letter explaining his absence and requesting a new date.
When proceedings resumed in the case on June 22, Justice Umar ordered the remand of the defendant in Kuje prison.
Dissatisfied with the actions the court took against him, Sowore—whose legal team had initially withdrawn from the case over alleged bias by the judge—secured a new lawyer, who promptly filed a motion to restore his bail and quash the arrest warrant.
When the case came up on Tuesday, Justice Umar held that he was minded to admit the defendant to bail.
However, the court listed some conditions that had to be met before he would be released from prison custody.
Aside from granting him bail to the tune of N200 million, the court held that the defendant must produce two sureties in like sum.
The court also ordered the defendant to surrender his international passport.
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Sowore, in the application he anchored on Sections 35(4), 36(1), and 66 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as Sections 169 and 352 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, insisted that the orders the court made against him were unjust and unwarranted.
The defendant had, on December 2, 2025, pleaded not guilty to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, filed against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The charges allege offences under Sections 24(1)(b) and 24(2)(a), (b), and (c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
The offending posts, made on August 25, 2025, were in response to President Tinubu’s claim, made in Brazil, that his administration had ended corruption in Nigeria.
Angered by the posts, the DSS demanded that X Inc. (formerly Twitter) and Meta Platforms Inc. ban Sowore’s accounts and remove the posts.
The security agency also wrote to Sowore, asking him to delete the posts from all platforms.
Non-compliance with the request led to the charges.
The prosecution claims the defamatory posts were intended to cause a breakdown of law and order and to tarnish the president’s reputation.
Exhibits include printouts of the posts and the DSS letters.
X Inc. and Meta were initially co-defendants but were delisted in the amended charge.
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