Former Anambra State governor Peter Obi has announced his decision to leave the African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing internal crises and what he described as growing political interference within the party.
In a statement released on Sunday, Obi clarified that his exit was not due to personal disagreements with party leaders. “My decision to leave the ADC is not because our highly respected Chairman, Senator David Mark, treated me badly, nor because my leader and elder brother, Atiku Abubakar, or any other respected leaders did anything personally wrong to me,” he said.
He attributed his departure to broader systemic issues, alleging that destabilizing forces were beginning to infiltrate the party. According to him, “the same Nigerian state and its agents that created unnecessary crises and hostility within the Labour Party… now appear to be finding their way into the ADC, with endless court cases, internal battles, suspicion, and division.”
Obi also painted a grim picture of the wider political environment, stating that “we now live in an environment that has become increasingly toxic, where the very system that should protect and create opportunities… often works against the people.”
He further raised concerns about internal dynamics within political circles, noting that “some who publicly identify with you privately distance themselves or join in unfair criticism.”
Reiterating his philosophy of leadership, Obi said, “I have never looked down on anyone except to uplift them,” adding that leadership, for him, remains “about service, sacrifice, and helping others rise.”
The former governor questioned prevailing societal values, asking why “doing the right thing” is often “misconstrued as wrongdoing” and why “integrity is not valued” in the country.
Dismissing suggestions of personal ambition, he stated, “I am not desperate to be President, Vice President, or Senate President,” emphasizing instead his concern for ordinary Nigerians, particularly those affected by insecurity and economic hardship.
Despite his exit from the ADC, Obi expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future, saying he believes the country can still achieve “competent leadership based on justice, compassion, and equal opportunity for all.”
He concluded by reaffirming his position: “A new Nigeria is possible.”
