ADC faction rejects Peter Obi’s Enugu registration, says it violates party rules

A faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by its National Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe, has disowned the reported registration and defection of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi at its Enugu zonal office, calling the move a violation of the party’s constitution.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Gombe’s faction—which claims to be the authentic national leadership of the ADC—stressed that the party’s constitution only permits membership registration at the ward level, not at zonal or national offices.

“It has come to our attention that a certain Mr Peter Obi was reportedly registered at a party zonal office in Enugu. The NWC wishes to categorically state that this action does not align with the constitutional and stipulated procedures for membership registration,” Gombe said.

The faction clarified that prospective members must register in their respective wards of origin or residence to receive a validated membership card, and any registration outside this process is “irregular and invalid.”

Peter Obi had announced his defection to the ADC on Wednesday at an event in Enugu, calling for a broad opposition coalition to “rescue Nigeria.”

The ADC faction, however, stated it is investigating the breach of due process and urged the public to disregard claims of alternative registration channels.

This development follows a statement from the Julius Abure-led Labour Party, which described Obi’s exit as a “liberation” for the party and expressed regret over fielding him as its 2023 presidential candidate.

Attempts to reach the other ADC faction, led by David Mark, were unsuccessful.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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