Four Senators who Joined Peter Obi In defecting to ADC

As of early January 2026, Peter Obi's dramatic exit from the Labour Party (LP) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on December 31, 2025, was accompanied by key political heavyweights from the South-East and beyond. This strategic realignment is widely seen as an attempt to build a stronger opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Among the high-profile figures, four serving senators are most consistently linked to following Obi into the ADC during the Enugu declaration:

1. SENATOR TONY NWOYE (Anambra North)

A former Labour Party senator, Nwoye publicly joined Obi at the Enugu ceremony, significantly strengthening the ADC’s presence in Anambra State.

2. SENATOR ENYINNAYA ABARIBE (Abia South)

Formerly of APGA, Abaribe resigned on the same day as Obi’s defection, describing Obi as his "political leader." His move is aimed at uniting the opposition against APC’s dominance.

3. SENATOR VICTOR UMEH (Anambra Central)

A former APGA national chairman and 2023 LP candidate, Umeh played a prominent role at the event and has formally aligned with ADC, bringing mobilization experience and regional influence.

4. SENATOR IRETI KINGIBE (FCT)

Kingibe formally joined ADC in December 2025, prior to Obi’s Enugu event, becoming the party’s first serving senator. While not from the South-East, her inclusion strengthens ADC’s national profile.

Here are images from the Enugu defection ceremony showing Peter Obi and these senators publicly aligning with the ADC:

The gathering at Nike Lake Resort was historic — Obi emphasized unity, resistance to rigging, and a “rescue journey” for Nigeria starting in 2026.

Other political figures, including Gilbert Nnaji, Ben Obi, and Sam Egwu, were supportive of Obi’s move, though their formal defection statuses vary. The core group of Tony Nwoye, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Victor Umeh, and Ireti Kingibe represents the most prominent serving senators tied to this wave.

This realignment signals a major shake-up in Nigeria’s opposition landscape, consolidating South-East strength within ADC while challenging APC’s entrenched dominance. The 2027 political battle has officially begun.