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The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has vowed to challenge the newly passed Electoral Act 2026 in court after formally registering with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Obi completed his registration on Saturday in his hometown of Agulu in Anaocha Local Government Area.
The former governor of Anambra State criticised aspects of the new electoral law, alleging that some provisions were designed to influence the outcome of the 2027 general elections and weaken the credibility of the electoral process.
He also accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of going beyond its constitutional mandate by attempting to dictate how political parties conduct their internal affairs.
Obi argued that the electoral body’s responsibility should be limited to organising credible elections rather than interfering in how parties choose their candidates.
“I am going to challenge the decision in court; INEC has no reason to assume processes in how political parties elect their candidates. Its responsibility is to conduct elections.
“You don’t tell a team how to prepare its players before a match. As a referee, INEC’s role is to officiate, not to determine which players a team should field,” he said.
The former presidential candidate further alleged that several new laws being introduced were aimed at giving the ruling party an advantage ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
He called on party members and supporters to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the polls, noting that Anambra State has about 2.8 million registered voters.
“We have about 2.8 million registered voters in Anambra, and I urge everyone to go to the grassroots and mobilise people to register and be ready to vote.”
Obi also stressed the importance of unity among opposition groups, saying leaders in the South-East were engaging with other regions to build a stronger coalition ahead of the next elections. He added that the region remained fully committed to Nigeria’s unity and development.
The former governor criticised the country’s socio-economic conditions, lamenting that Nigeria remains among the poorest nations globally despite its vast resources.
He said the opposition was committed to building a country where opportunities are accessible to everyone, regardless of background.
Speaking at the event, the National Organising Secretary of the ADC, Chinedu Idigo, said the party’s membership registration exercise would be conducted both physically and online. He urged prospective members to complete online registration before visiting designated centres to obtain their membership cards.
