Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has confirmed his exit from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), blaming deepening internal crises and what he described as a hostile and “toxic” political environment.
Obi made the revelation in a personal statement shared on Sunday via his X platform, where he reflected tensions within Nigeria’s political space and the pressures confronting public figures.
He was quick to clarify that his decision was not driven by personal issues with party leaders, including National Chairman David Mark and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, both of whom he said he still holds in high regard.
According to Obi, his departure was necessitated by recurring internal conflicts and external interference, developments he said were beginning to mirror the challenges he previously faced in the Labour Party.
“The same Nigerian state and its agents that created unnecessary crises and hostility within the Labour Party that forced me to leave now appear to be finding their way into the ADC,” Obi said.
He lamented persistent court cases, internal divisions, and a growing atmosphere of suspicion within the party, warning that such distractions were derailing focus from urgent national issues.
Obi also decried what he described as a troubling culture in Nigeria’s political space, where sincerity and service are often misread as weakness.
“Even within spaces where one labours sincerely, one is sometimes treated like an outsider,” he said, noting that he and his allies had repeatedly been blamed despite their contributions.
Reaffirming his core motivation, the former Anambra State governor stressed that his ambition has never been about personal power.
“I am not desperate to be President, Vice President, or Senate President. I am desperate to see a society that works for all,” he said.
Despite leaving the ADC, Obi maintained his commitment to Nigeria’s progress, expressing optimism that the country can still achieve leadership rooted in justice, compassion, and equal opportunity.
“A new Nigeria is possible,” he stated.
