By Olamilekan Tosin
Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has urged his supporters to vote for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the upcoming by-elections. This decision comes after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) excluded LP candidates from the ballot due to an internal crisis within the party.
The by-elections are scheduled to take place in 16 states across Nigeria, covering two senatorial seats, five federal House of Representatives seats, and nine state assembly positions. Obi’s directive to his supporters emphasizes that the LP has no recognized candidates by INEC, prompting him to recommend the ADC as an alternative.
The LP has been embroiled in a leadership crisis since the 2023 general elections, with rival factions laying claim to its leadership. This crisis has led to a series of court cases and has hampered the party’s ability to participate in several electoral contests. The INEC’s decision to exclude LP candidates has further complicated the party’s situation.
In a post on his X page, Obi stated, “On the 16th of August 2025, Nigerians will go to the polling units again for the by-elections… Kindly note that the Labour Party has no candidates recognised by INEC due to the internal crisis. I humbly urge every member of Obidient and COPDEM families to go out and vote for the coalition political party, African Democratic Congress (ADC), in their respective states. The struggle for Nigeria has started”.
Obi’s decision to support the ADC has sparked reactions from Nigerians, with some questioning his move and others seeing it as a strategic step for the upcoming elections. Notably, Obi recently joined forces with other major opposition leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai, to form a coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC). This alliance is expected to challenge the ruling party in the 2027 general elections.
