Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has announced his departure from the African Democratic Congress, attributing the move to worsening internal disputes and what he described as an increasingly hostile political atmosphere.
In a statement shared on Sunday via his verified X account, Obi said Nigeria’s political environment had become “toxic,” adding that public office holders and political actors are facing growing strain within the system.
He stressed that his exit was not the result of any personal fallout with the party’s top leadership. Obi specifically mentioned ADC National Chairman David Mark and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, stating that he still holds both men in high regard despite his decision to leave.
According to him, the resignation was driven by recurring internal disagreements and external influences that he believes are destabilising the party structure, issues he warned were beginning to resemble the challenges that pushed him out of the Labour Party.
“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,” he said.
Obi further pointed to ongoing court disputes, factional struggles, and a rising climate of distrust within the party, arguing that such distractions were weakening focus on urgent national priorities.
He also criticised a political culture where values such as integrity, humility, and service are often misunderstood or misrepresented as weakness, noting that individuals who act in good faith are frequently misjudged.
“Even within spaces where one labours sincerely, one is sometimes treated like an outsider,” he said, adding that he and members of his political network have repeatedly been subjected to blame despite their efforts.
Reaffirming his broader political stance, Obi said his ambition is not centred on personal advancement but on national transformation.
“I am not desperate to be President, Vice President, or Senate President. I am desperate to see a society that works for all,” he said.
Despite exiting the ADC, he maintained that he remains committed to Nigeria’s progress and called for leadership rooted in fairness, empathy, and equal opportunity.
He concluded with a note of optimism, stating that “a new Nigeria is possible.”
