By Chimdiogo Amuh 

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

In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, the faction, which described itself as the authentic national leadership of the ADC, said the purported registration violated the party’s constitution and established membership procedures.

This follows Obi’s announcement of his defection to the ADC at an event held at the Nike Lake Resort in Enugu State, where the former Anambra State governor called on Nigerians and opposition groups to unite under a broad coalition to “rescue Nigeria from poverty, disunity and democratic decline.”

Addressing the development in a New Year message, Gombe said the clarification became necessary due to what he described as misleading information in the public domain concerning the ADC’s membership process.

He stressed that the party is guided by order, discipline and strict adherence to its constitution, noting that membership registration can only be carried out at the ward level.

“It has come to our attention that a certain Mr Peter Obi was reportedly registered at a party zonal office in Enugu. The National Working Committee categorically states that such an action does not conform with the constitutional and stipulated procedures for membership registration into the African Democratic Congress,” Gombe said.

According to him, the ADC constitution recognises ward registration as the only valid entry point for prospective members, after which a duly validated membership card is issued. He added that the constitution does not permit registration at zonal or national offices.

“The party’s constitution does not provide for the registration of individuals at zonal or national offices outside of their designated wards. Any registration carried out contrary to this provision is irregular and invalid,” he stated.

Gombe said the national leadership had therefore distanced itself from the reported registration of Obi at the Enugu zonal office and had commenced investigations into the alleged breach of due process.

He further urged party members and the general public to disregard claims suggesting alternative channels for joining the ADC, reiterating that ward-level registration remains the only recognised procedure.

Meanwhile, the clarification came a day after the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee of the Labour Party described Obi’s defection to the ADC as a “liberation” for the party.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, the Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, said the party regretted presenting Obi as its presidential candidate in the 2023 election, adding that his exit merely formalised a political separation that had existed for months amid the party’s leadership crisis.