Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has declared that his decision to exit the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) was driven by the worsening condition of the nation and the urgent need to reposition Nigeria on the path of recovery and progress.
Obi, who left the ADC for NDC with former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, described the move as a continuation of his long-standing commitment to building a new Nigeria anchored on justice, accountability, competence, and compassion.
“The condition of our nation and the urgent need to rescue Nigeria informed my decision,” Obi said,
In a statement released on Monday, he emphasized that his defection was neither borne out of personal ambition nor political convenience.
He explained that after “deep reflection” on the country’s current trajectory, he concluded that a new political alignment had become necessary to effectively pursue the reforms Nigeria urgently requires.
The Anambra Sate former governor, who did not shy away from criticizing the internal crises and legal battles that have plagued opposition parties, revealing that his exit from the ADC mirrored his earlier departure from the Labour Party.
According to him, these disputes were not accidental but “orchestrated” efforts aimed at weakening credible participation in the democratic process.
Despite his exit, Obi expressed gratitude to the ADC leadership, particularly Chairman Senator David Mark, as well as other key figures within the party, including former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, whom he described as a respected leader and elder brother.
Obi used the occasion to issue a stern warning to the Nigerian government, cautioning against the manipulation of political institutions and the destabilization of opposition parties.
“Democracy must never become a weapon against the people,” he declared, stressing that a healthy democratic system depends on strong institutions, credible opposition, and the freedom of citizens to make choices without fear or intimidation.
Painting a grim picture of the nation’s current state, Obi pointed to rising poverty, widespread hunger, escalating insecurity, and the collapse of businesses as clear indicators that Nigeria is facing one of the most difficult periods in its history.
“Our young people are losing hope, and many citizens have lost faith in the system,” he said, adding that leadership at such a critical time must be rooted in “competence, capacity, character, and compassion,” rather than propaganda or division.
Obi maintained that his move to the NDC represents not a shift in values, but a reinforcement of his lifelong mission to entrench good governance and restore public trust in leadership.
“Our decision is a continuation of the same struggle — to build a Nigeria where leadership is about service, where resources are managed responsibly, and where every citizen can live with dignity and security,” he said.
He further called on Nigerians across political, ethnic, and religious divides to unite in pursuit of national renewal, insisting that the country’s challenges transcend individual ambitions and party affiliations.
In a message directed particularly at youths and women, Obi praised their resilience amid hardship and urged them not to give in to despair.
“Nations do not change because people surrender to hopelessness,” he said. “They change because people continue to believe, continue to sacrifice, and continue to stand for what is right.”
Meanwhile, Obi reaffirmed his belief in the possibility of national transformation, saying a new Nigeria is still possible.