The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has officially defected from the LP to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Mr Obi announced the decision on Wednesday during a political rally at the Nike Lake Resort Hotel in Enugu.

“We are ending this year with the hope that in 2026 we will begin a journey of rescue of our country,” Mr Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, said.

“We are saying that those who are planning to rig elections in Nigeria come 2027, we will resist it by every means lawful and legitimate.”

The former governor joined the ADC alongside his LP supporters and politicians from other political parties.

Mr Obi argued that he was only formalising his membership of the ADC rather than defecting to the party, because he had been part of the conversations to form the opposition coalition group that adopted ADC as its platform for the 2027 general election.

“So, we have all come together to ensure that we become full members of this coalition of ADC led by Senator David Mark,” he said.

He urged members of other political parties interested in saving Nigeria from poor leadership to join the ADC and become a part of the “family” that will “rescue” the country.

“We are not going to be a family of crime. We are not going to be a family to deprive other people. We are going to be a family of change.

“A family that will create a new Nigeria. That is what the family is all about,” Mr Obi stated.

The former governor accused the President Bola Tinubu administration of “poor leadership”, citing the recently proposed tax regime.

Aside from Mr Obi, several politicians from the South-east also switched to the ADC during the event.

The Abia South Senator, Enyinnaya Abaribe, was among the politicians from the region who joined the ADC at the event.

“Let me announce that from this moment, I resign from the All Progressives Grand Alliance,” Mr Abaribe declared at the event.

“So, as of now, I am fully in ADC following my brother and our leader ,Mr Peter Obi,” he added.

Others who switched to the ADC during the event included the Anambra Central Senator, Victor Umeh (from LP), his Anambra North counterpart, Tony Nwoye (LP), and a former governor of Ebonyi State, Sam Egwu, from the PDP

Another former PDP chieftain, Ben Obi, also defected to the ADC at the event.

A former Enugu East Senator, Gilbert Nnaji, who defected from the PDP to the ADC recently, also attended the event.

Speaking at the event, the National Chairperson of the ADC, David Mark, said the defections of the top politicians to the party would “impact heavily” on the national polity.

Mr Mark, a former president of the Nigerian Senate, congratulated Mr Obi and other defectors for their decision, assuring that the party gives everyone and geopolitical zone a “genuine sense of belonging and equal opportunity.”

“Today’s event is not just a mere defection (to the ADC). It marks the foundation of a strong and winning coalition nationwide.

The Federal Government has commenced a phased development of grazing reserves across the country, beginning with three pilot locations in Gombe, Plateau, and the Federal Capital Territory, as part of a broader, inter-ministerial effort involving state governments and the private sector.

Speaking on the initiative, the Head of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Oghenekevwe Uchechukwu. “It’s a phased approach. We can’t take all of them at once. There are 417 grazing reserves, and we intend to cover all of them. Starting with a couple of them as pilots: Wawa-Zange (Gombe State), Wase (Plateau State), and Kawu in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory,” she stated.

According to her, work has already begun in the three pilot locations, with collaboration extending beyond the federal level. “These are the three that we’ve started working on, and we’re doing it in collaboration with the state government, as well as the private sector. So over the years, as we get more funding and improved partnerships, we will spread to the other grazing reserves. But these are like the model for how the others will look.”
She explained that the development plan extends beyond livestock concerns and includes social infrastructure designed to improve living conditions for pastoral communities.

“So, it’s not just even the ministry, it’s an inter-ministerial activity, because we’re thinking of ensuring that these grazing reserves have good public schools for the pastoralists, for their children to attend. We’re trying to see that we have access roads. We’re trying to see that we have public healthcare,” Uchechukwu stated.

Housing and renewable energy are also part of the pilot projects, she said. “We’re trying to see that we have houses for the pastoralists to dwell in. We have signed a partnership for the solarisation of the Kawu grazing reserve in Abuja, and we’ll probably replicate it in the other grazing reserves that we’re working on. So, it’s a lot of money. The federal government will not bear the cost alone.”

Uchechukwu stressed that funding will be shared among multiple stakeholders to reduce the burden on the federal government. “We’re partnering with the state government and the private sector. So, I think as soon as we provide basic infrastructure in those grazing reserves, the private sector will be encouraged also to come in and pitch in terms of providing some structure to the abattoir and all of that.”

She noted that the cost of infrastructure development would be high. “If you’re thinking of constructing roads, healthcare facilities, schools, and housing units for these pastoralists, it will definitely run into millions of Naira. And other infrastructure too. Like the Kawu grazing reserve, we’re supposed to desilt.”

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, held a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, on Monday. Our correspondent sighted the governor walking towards the President’s office at 5:01 p.m., dressed in a deep-blue long-sleeve shirt, black trousers, and a black flat cap.

Minutes earlier, Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, had been ushered in for a separate engagement. Details of both meetings remain undisclosed. Fubara’s visit comes amid speculation that he may defect from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress following political turbulence in Rivers State.

On December 5, 17 lawmakers loyal to former governor Nyesom Wike, led by the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, defected from the PDP to the APC, shifting the legislature’s balance of power. The only three lawmakers considered loyal to Fubara have not resumed sitting since the six-month emergency rule was lifted on September 18, deepening uncertainty about his political future.

Months earlier, Fubara had been reinstated as governor following the end of the emergency rule imposed by President Tinubu on March 18. Nwifuru, an APC governor and former Speaker of the Ebonyi House of Assembly, has also engaged the Presidency on infrastructure and security coordination in the South-East.

The Secretary to the State Government, Dr Benibo Anabraba, disclosed this at a news briefing in Port Harcourt on Monday. During a site inspection about two weeks ago, Fubara had said the Assembly complex along Moscow Road would be completed before the end of the year.

He said he intended to present the 2026 budget in the new complex, noting, “I strongly believe that before the end of December, this particular place should be set. Maybe when they come in, the other side of the complex will be handled by the Speaker himself. But this major work on the site, I will make sure it is ready for them, so that we will present our budget for 2026 in the main hallowed chambers, in the dignified manner that befits us.”

Anabraba reiterated that Fubara is committed to delivering democratic dividends to all citizens, assuring residents of safety and adherence to peace.

“From December 10 to 23, the projects to be commissioned and flagged off will cover Ahoada East and West, Ogba/E