Peter Obi Warns: I Will Leave The ADC If The Party’s Primary Becomes Transactional

Abuja – Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has issued a strong warning to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), vowing to quit the party if its primary election process turns transactional.

Obi made the declaration during a Monday interview on Arise Television, as speculations intensify over the party’s 2027 presidential ticket and an upcoming convention.

“I will leave the ADC if the party’s primary becomes transactional,” Obi stated bluntly. He stressed that he cannot tolerate or participate in a system where money changes hands for votes or positions. “I cannot be paying people to go and serve them,” he added.

The Labour Party flagbearer-turned-ADC chieftain recounted his political journey to justify his hardline stance. He left the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) over disagreements with his successor in Anambra to prevent governance from becoming toxic. From the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he exited because “people were not playing by the rules. It was transactional.” He moved to the Labour Party for similar reasons before joining the ADC late last year as part of a broader opposition coalition.

“I’m in ADC with the same people, some of whom I left in PDP and other parties. But we are going through the same process. If that process is again compromised, I will speak out,” Obi said. “If I have to move 20 times, I will. I have never been involved in rigging of election, at the primary level, at the election itself, and after that.”

NaijaChoice News gathered that Obi’s comments have triggered fresh panic within ADC ranks, especially as pressure mounts from his loyal supporters, including the Village Boys Movement, for the party to hand him the 2027 presidential ticket without a messy contest. The former governor admitted he is not certain of clinching the ticket but insisted his focus remains on building a genuine movement for change rather than personal ambition.

The warning comes amid reports of internal ADC disputes and external pressure from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the party’s planned convention. Obi, however, insisted the convention will hold as scheduled, accusing certain forces of trying to undermine opposition efforts ahead of 2027.

Political observers note that Obi’s latest position reinforces his long-standing image as a politician guided by principles over power. Critics, however, point out the irony of him aligning with some of the same figures he once criticised in the PDP, now regrouped under the ADC banner. Supporters counter that the move reflects strategic coalition-building to rescue Nigeria from what they describe as bad leadership.

With the 2027 polls still over a year away, Obi’s declaration has already sparked heated debates across social media and political circles. Many Nigerians see it as a test of the ADC’s commitment to transparent politics, while others view it as Obi drawing a clear red line against the moneybag culture that has plagued Nigerian parties for decades.