Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has said he plans to challenge the recently passed Electoral Act 2026 in court, describing parts of the law as an attempt to influence the outcome of the 2027 general elections.
Obi made the disclosure on Saturday while formally registering as a member of the African Democratic Congress in his hometown of Agulu in Aniocha Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The former Anambra State governor expressed concerns about certain provisions in the new electoral legislation, which he believes could weaken the credibility of future elections. According to him, the law appears to contain elements that could allow manipulation of the electoral process.
He also criticised the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission, arguing that the electoral body should limit its duties to organising and supervising elections rather than getting involved in the internal affairs of political parties.
Obi said it was not the responsibility of the electoral commission to determine how parties conduct their candidate selection processes. He compared the situation to a sporting event, noting that a referee is expected to oversee a match rather than dictate how teams prepare or choose their players.
The former presidential candidate further alleged that some aspects of the new law were introduced to favour the ruling party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Despite his concerns, Obi urged members and supporters of the ADC to intensify political mobilisation, especially at the grassroots level, in preparation for the next general elections. He encouraged citizens to ensure they are registered voters and remain actively involved in the electoral process.
Obi also stressed the importance of cooperation among opposition groups across the country, noting that efforts were ongoing to build alliances capable of presenting a strong challenge in the 2027 polls. He said leaders from the South-East were already engaging with other regions to strengthen collaboration within the opposition.
While speaking about the state of the nation, Obi criticised Nigeria’s current socio-economic situation, saying the country has struggled with widespread poverty despite its abundant natural and human resources. He emphasised the need for leadership that would create opportunities and allow citizens to succeed regardless of their background.
Meanwhile, the National Organising Secretary of the ADC, Chinedu Idigo, explained that the party’s membership drive would be carried out through both online and physical registration platforms.
He advised new members to complete the online registration process before visiting designated centres to obtain their membership cards. Idigo also disclosed that thousands of membership cards had already been distributed in Anambra State, with more expected to arrive.
The ADC official added that the party intends to use the direct primary method to select its candidates in future elections.
Also speaking during the event, the party’s candidate in the November 2025 Anambra governorship election, John Nwosu, described Obi’s decision to register with the party as a significant development.
Nwosu said Obi’s involvement would strengthen the party and inspire members as they prepare for upcoming political contests.
He also reflected on the challenges faced during the 2023 elections, including vote buying, low voter turnout and limited presence of party agents at polling units, noting that the party was working to address those issues ahead of future polls.
