The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has officially ruled out the possibility of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, running under its banner in 2027.
Despite Obi’s open engagement with ADC members and growing speculations about a possible switch, the party has made it clear that he cannot contest unless he fully quits his current political affiliation.
According to the party’s constitution, only loyal and card-carrying members are eligible to participate in the presidential primaries.
This decision has come as a twist for many supporters who expected a potential merger or defection, especially considering Obi’s rising popularity.
However, the ADC insists it is simply following its internal guidelines.
One critical clause in the ADC’s primary election guidelines, specifically Article 8 on membership, states that an aspirant “must not belong to any other political party.”
In addition, if the aspirant previously belonged to one, they must have officially resigned.
Peter Obi, however, still remains a key member of the Labour Party.
His spokesperson, Tanko Yunusa, confirmed this, saying, “Well, that will be made public if he decides to do that. At the moment, he is still a member of the Labour Party.”
This confirmation has made his path with the ADC unclear, and possibly, closed at least for now.
The party seems unwilling to compromise its structure for any individual, no matter how popular.
Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, appear to have smoother access within the ADC.
Both politicians, who are no longer members of their former parties (PDP and APC), have reportedly been cleared by the ADC’s National Executive Committee.
This internal clearance means they can legitimately pursue the ADC’s presidential ticket when the time comes.
The party has also reiterated its commitment to transparency and integrity ahead of the 2027 general election.
“The electoral committee of the party shall conduct primary elections that will produce credible candidates that reflect the choice of the people,” the ADC noted.
In addition, the party says it reserves the right to decide whether to adopt direct primaries, indirect primaries, or consensus, depending on the decision of its executive body.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has long positioned itself as a party committed to democratic values and rule-based politics.
Therefore, enforcing these membership conditions aligns with the party’s stance on discipline and internal control.
