ADC, COALITION MOVEMENT, PETER OBI: WHY 31ST DECEMBER 2025 WAS SIGNIFICANT

By DR UCHE DIALA

“The movement of Mr. Peter Obi completes an important circle; solidifying the North and South equation in the ADC, for those who understand. Little wonder the ADC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and other keen political watchers have described that development as a significant milestone for both the coalition movement and the ADC.”

The last day of 2025 was not significant just because it was the last day of the year. It was more significant because something symbolic happened in the Nigerian political space, which will predictably have an impact on the politics of Nigeria towards and in 2027.

It was the day that former Anambra state Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi formally joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC). “Formally” because the day Mr. Obi joined the coalition movement towards the 2027 Presidential election was actually the day the ship effectively set sail. Since then, many have been speculating on what would happen next.

In formally and publicly announcing his exit from his erstwhile party, the Labour Party, and joining the ADC on the 31st of December 2025, Mr. Peter Obi followed in the footsteps of two other key coalition movement leaders – Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Mallam Nasir El-Rufai who had earlier equally left their former parties, the PDP and SDP respectively for the ADC.

The movement of Mr. Peter Obi completes an important circle; solidifying the North and South equation in the ADC, for those who understand. Little wonder the ADC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and other keen political watchers have described that development as a significant milestone for both the coalition movement and the ADC.

In addition, the 31st December 2025 development is significant for the following reasons:

* Strengthening The Opposition and Protecting Our Democracy

Beyond contesting and winning the 2027 presidential election, a credible, viable and strong opposition is a vital ingredient in a democracy without which democracy becomes mere talk and a quasi dictatorship.

Under the current administration, opposition in Nigeria was getting systematically and deliberately emasculated and buried. The opposition political parties with some significance, including the PDP, Labour Party, and SDP were strategically being hollowed out and weakened so much so that Nigerians were already helplessly surrendering to idea of a one party state until the idea of uniting the opposition under one umbrella which eventually led to the coalition movement and now the ADC was mooted.

At the time the movement started, not a few were skeptical. Many mocked and outrightly dismissed the move. The ruling party on its part did everything possible to sabotage and scuttle the movement, but through determination, resilience and patriotic commitment, the coalition movement trudged on. Today, against all odds and predictions of doom, it has morphed into a political party of growing weight. At a time when all other political parties have been either destroyed or weakened, some beyond redemption, the ADC is emerging as a real, credible, and viable opposition and alternative for Nigerians.

For this, due credit must be given to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the trio of Honourable Emeka Nwajiuba, Abubakar Malami SAN and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Mr. Peter Obi and Rt. Hon Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi.

It is undoubtedly a plus for our democracy. Imagine for a moment that the movement was not launched when it was, with Governors and legislators moving or being coerced to move to the ruling party, what the political terrain would have looked like going towards 2027. Nigerians might yet look back in the future and appreciate what has been achieved by that move.

Mr. Peter Obi’s formal movement to the ADC is another solid piece of the puzzle put in place. It further solidifies the party’s position as a credible national political platform as it marches towards challenging the incumbent in 2027 in a bid to rescue our nation and halt its drift.

* Further Consolidating The Coalition’s (ADC) Movement Towards Victory In 2027

As Mr. Peter Obi formally joins the ADC, he brings along with him a considerable number of his loyalists and supporters. They will add to the teeming number of loyalists and supporters of other key opposition coalition leaders, including Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, etc., in addition to the millions of Nigerians, including APC loyalists and supporters and non aligned Nigerians who have already identified with the coalition movement and the ADC simply in their shared desire to get rid of the current administration which has inflicted and continues to inflict nothing but pain on Nigerians across the board.

The idea that Obidients, Atikulators, El-Rufaists, Ogbenists, Rotimians, etc., could come together to work towards a common goal seemed a remote and even impossible
proposition to many not too long ago, and that was one of the factors that the incumbent administration believed would work against the coalition and the ADC. Unfortunately, that hope has been effectively shattered like a pack of cards.

A cursory look at figures from the 2023 presidential election, while not a concrete prediction, as political dynamics do change, surely is a potent indicator of what could realistically happen in 2027.

In the 2023 presidential election, with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Mr. Peter Obi running under different political party platforms against Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Tinubu (APC), Atiku (PDP) and Obi (Labour) garnered 8,794,726 votes (36.61%), 6,984,520 votes (29.07%) and 6,101,533 votes (25.40%) respectively. That means that Atiku and Obi garnered a total of 13,086,053 votes between them against Tinubu’s 8,794,726. You can make what you may of the figures.

* A Unique Opportunity For A Major And Realistic Resurgence, Realignment And Reintegration (3Rs) Of The South East Into Mainstream National Politics

It is commendable what Mr. Peter Obi was able to achieve in the 2023 presidential election riding on a rainbow coalition of Nigerians without any real ‘political structure’, as they say. Today, Mr. Peter Obi is undoubtedly the organic political leader of the South East. It is thus fair to say, that anyway he goes, so goes the South East.

Nigerian politics is as complex as the Nigerian nation itself – with strands of different shapes, sizes, hues, and colours woven together into a fabric. Understanding and effectively navigating that complex mosaic is key to success in Nigerian national politics.

Already, Mr. Peter Obi’s formal entry into the ADC on the 31st of December 2025 has triggered a significant movement of people and forces in the south East. For the first time in a long time, definitely since the PDP era, the South East finds itself aligning, maybe not by design but aligning nonetheless, with a political party that is shaping up to be a formidable national platform. This development aligns with my self assigned task of reawakening the time tested South East-North political alliance.

With strong political forces and figures from the North aligning with and in the ADC, it is fair and realistic to say that hope and possibilities spring eternal for consequential resurgence, realignment and reintegration of the South East into effective and productive national politics, something that I have dreamt and worked hard towards in the last 10 years.

Thus far, the response and reaction from the South East are encouraging. It however needs to be deepened and galvanised, not just in the interest of the South East and the ADC but in the overall interest of the nation. The South East must recognise and embrace this unique moment and opportunity, because it does not come around often.

In closing …

It is fair to say that the opposition coalition movement and the ADC are on the front foot and probably at the cusp of history. However, the path to history and victory are strewn with thorns and banana peels. Apologies to the late Dr Chuba Okadigbo, Oyi of Oyi. Therefore, care and eternal vigilance are needed.

Managing several interests and big egos can be challenging, but I have implicit confidence in the leadership of the coalition movement and that of the ADC under Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Thus far, contrary to the predictions of many, the key leaders of the coalition movement have been able to conduct themselves in the most remarkable, statesmanly and patriotic manner and that gives me confidence that the delicate steps ahead in the coming months would also be satisfactorily, justly, fairly and efficiently handled in the interest of the nation and Nigerians. The important thing is that we are all in the room now.

As I welcome Mr. Peter Obi once more into the ADC family, I humbly urge every leader and member of the party as well as every Nigerian to keep our eyes on the ball. The task ahead is enormous but it is not insurmountable. Let us have a handshake of friendship, unity and collaboration and rescue our only and dear nation, Nigeria.

Together, with God, it is POssible!

#GodBlessNigeria
#GodBlessNigerians
#GodBlessADC
#EyesOnTheBall

©️ Uche Diala

Member National Coalition Movement Leadership
2nd January 2026