Less than two weeks after Peter Obi officially joined the African Democratic Congress, a stark warning has emerged from the party’s Abia State chairman: without a massive surge in registration, the former Labour Party presidential candidate may not even secure the ADC ticket.
Don Norman Obinna dropped the bombshell Saturday in Umuahia, revealing that Abia State currently has about 400,000 registered ADC members—while Adamawa State is nearing 1 million.
“It is not just about wanting Peter Obi to be President, the question should be how do we deliver Peter Obi,” Obinna said, speaking as a special guest at the inauguration of the Coalition for the Protection of Democracy (COPDEM) executive members for Ikwuano, Umuahia North and Umuahia South LGAs.
“If the primary election is conducted today, will Peter Obi win? That is my question.”
The Numbers Problem
The registration disparity Obinna highlighted is stark. Abia, Obi’s home state and a supposed stronghold, has registered about 400,000 members. Adamawa, a northern state, is heading toward 1 million.
The implication is clear: if the ADC presidential primary were held today, delegates from states with higher registration figures would likely have more weight in determining the outcome. Obi, who joined the party on March 7, needs his supporters to translate enthusiasm into membership numbers—quickly.
The Urgent Call
Obinna’s message to the Obidient movement was direct: registration, not just sentiment, will determine whether Obi becomes the ADC candidate.
He urged members of COPDEM and ADC members at large to drive sensitization, insisting on the need for mass participation in the ongoing online e-registration.
The event in Umuahia also featured Prince Solomon, Chairman of COPDEM in Abia State, and Ogbonna Abarikwu, a House of Representatives aspirant for Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency. Both charged Nigerians to reject bad leadership and demand accountability from political parties.
What’s at Stake
Obi’s move to ADC after leaving the Labour Party was seen by many as a strategic shift to secure a platform with better national reach. But the party’s internal structures—including delegate selection and primary voting—are shaped by membership numbers.
If Abia and other southeastern states lag behind northern states in registration, Obi could face the same challenge that plagued his 2023 campaign: enthusiastic support that didn’t translate into the numbers needed to win.
Obinna’s warning is simple: sentiment is not enough. Registration is not optional. And the clock is ticking.
Next Steps
The ADC online e-registration continues. For Obidient supporters across the Southeast, the message from Abia’s party leadership is unambiguous: register now, or risk watching Peter Obi lose the ticket before the campaign even begins.
