Former presidential candidate Peter Obi, on Saturday, announced plans to challenge Nigeria’s new electoral law in court, describing provisions in the Electoral Act 2026 as attempts to manipulate the outcome of the 2027 general elections.
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party made the declaration after formally registering as a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in his hometown of Agulu in Aniocha Local Government Area of Anambra State.
He accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of overstepping its constitutional mandate and interfering in political parties’ internal processes.
Mr Obi questions INEC’s role in party primaries
Speaking after completing his registration, Mr Obi said he would approach the courts to challenge provisions of the law that he believes undermine democratic processes.
“I am going to challenge the decision in court; INEC has no reason to assume processes in how political parties elect their candidates. Its responsibility is to conduct elections,” he said.
“You don’t tell a team how to prepare its players before a match. As a referee, INEC’s role is to officiate, not to determine which players a team should field,” he added.
Allegations of an attempt to influence the 2027 election
The ADC presidential candidate alleged that some aspects of the Electoral Act 2026 were hurriedly introduced to favour the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
“All the laws being hurriedly created are simply aimed at enabling the ruling party to snatch the 2027 presidential election and run away with it,” he said.
Call for grassroots mobilisation
The former governor of Anambra State urged party supporters to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the next election cycle.
“We have about 2.8 million registered voters in Anambra, and I urge everyone to go to the grassroots and mobilise people to register and be ready to vote,” Mr Obi said.
Push for opposition unity
Mr Obi also stressed the need for stronger collaboration among opposition groups nationwide.
“In this journey of 2027, we in the South-East are working as a family and discussing with other regions. The goal is to unite the opposition and create a new Nigeria,” he said.
“The South-East is part of Nigeria, and no region is more Nigerian than the South-East.”
Mr Obi criticises Nigeria’s economic situation
The former presidential candidate also criticised the country’s socio-economic conditions, describing Nigeria as one of the poorest nations globally despite its vast resources.
“We cannot continue in an era where Nigeria has become one of the worst five countries in the world and the poverty capital of the world,” he said.
“We are committed to building a Nigeria where the child of a nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody.”
ADC explains the membership registration process
Earlier, the National Organising Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Chinedu Idigo, said the party’s membership registration exercise would be conducted both physically and online.
He urged prospective members to complete online registration before visiting designated centres to collect their membership cards.
Mr Idigo added that the party plans to adopt a direct primary system for selecting candidates in future elections.
According to him, about 50,000 membership cards have already been distributed to the state, with additional cards expected soon.
Obi’s registration boosts ADC momentum
Also speaking, the ADC candidate in the November 8, 2025, Anambra governorship election, John Nwosu, described Mr Obi’s registration as a major boost for the party.
“This is a day of joy. The journey of Obi to the presidency begins today,” Mr Nwosu said.
Mr Nwosu also reflected on the challenges faced by the party during the 2023 Nigerian general election, including vote-buying, voter apathy, and inadequate polling agents.
He said the party was working to address those issues ahead of future elections to strengthen its chances at the polls.
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