By Tony Okafor, Awka
Presidential hopeful and former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, on Saturday vowed to challenge the newly passed 2026 Electoral Act in court, alleging that it was deliberately designed to manipulate the outcome of the 2027 general elections.
Obi made the declaration in Awka during the flag-off of the membership mobilisation, registration and revalidation exercise of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the state.
The former Labour Party presidential candidate said the provisions of the new law were skewed in a manner that could facilitate electoral manipulation.
According to him, “all the laws being hurriedly churned out now are simply aimed at enabling them to snatch the 2027 presidential election and run away with it.”
“But this time,” he added, “we will catch them.”
Obi also warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against interfering in the internal affairs of political parties.
“A referee does not determine the rules, choices or line-up of players in teams or clubs,” he said, urging the electoral body to remain neutral and concentrate on its constitutional role of conducting credible elections.
He called on members and supporters of the ADC across the state to register at their respective wards, urging them to mobilise others to join the party.
“Go to your wards and register. Be fishers of men,” Obi charged.
Earlier, the chairman of the occasion, Ndi Obi, said the ADC would provide a platform where no member would be oppressed, stressing that the party’s immediate goal was to ensure Obi’s electoral success.
He urged party faithful in the state to unite and work together, noting that Anambra must once again demonstrate why it is regarded as the “Light of the Nation.”
Also speaking, the Chairman of the ADC Registration Committee in Anambra State, Ben Nwosu, described the registration drive as a “task force operation” aimed at strengthening the party’s grassroots presence.
Nwosu disclosed that the first tranche of membership cards would be distributed across the 21 local government areas of the state.
The National Organising Secretary of the party, Chinedu Idigo, emphasised that the registration process would be conducted both online and physically.
He advised prospective members to complete their online registration before proceeding to designated centres to collect their membership cards.
Idigo further revealed that the party would adopt the direct primary system in electing its candidates, adding that additional membership cards would soon be delivered to the state.
In his remarks, the ADC candidate in the November 8 ,2025 Anambra Governorship poll, John Nwosu, described the event as the beginning of Obi’s journey to the presidency.
“This is a day of joy. The journey of Obi as president begins today,” he said.
He urged members to close ranks and avoid internal divisions, warning that failure to deliver victory in the coming elections would amount to a wasted opportunity.
Reflecting on the 2023 elections, Nwosu said issues such as vote buying, voter apathy and inadequate polling agents had undermined the party’s performance, adding that efforts to address those challenges were already underway.
Also present at the event was Senator Victor Umeh, who described the occasion as historic, coming shortly after the ADC great declaration in Enugu on December 31,2025.
Umeh said Obi would formally register as a member of the ADC in due today, reaffirming the party’s commitment to supporting his presidential ambition.
