The defection of former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has sparked a major political realignment in Delta State, with LP’s 2023 governorship candidate, Deacon Ken Pela, leading a wave of defections to the ADC.
Pela, alongside several former LP candidates for the National Assembly, the Delta State House of Assembly, and local government councils, formally joined the ADC on January 7 at a ceremony in Asaba.
Delta State ADC Chairman, Austin Okolie, described the development as a turning point in the state’s politics, saying it signalled the emergence of a new coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Today marks a historic political realignment in Delta State and sends a clear message that a progressive alternative is taking shape,” Okolie said, noting the presence of national and zonal party leaders at the event.
Explaining his decision, Pela said he was seeking a platform anchored on values, accountability, and effective governance. He criticised what he described as a political culture that prioritises rhetoric over results despite Delta State’s abundant resources.
“Delta State is richly endowed but burdened by broken trust. We need politics rooted in responsibility and service, and that is why I chose the ADC,” Pela said.
He also pointed to rising insecurity and economic hardship nationwide, citing multidimensional poverty affecting millions of Nigerians, and called for collective action to rebuild public confidence in governance.
Pela’s defection was formalised with the submission of his resignation letter from the LP and his pledge to abide by the ADC’s constitution and principles.
Receiving the defectors on behalf of the party’s national leadership, ADC National Chief Whip, Elder Festus Igbinoba, said the move reflected a broader national trend of leaders gravitating toward value-based politics.
ADC Deputy National Chairman, Senator Andrew Uchendu, similarly described Pela’s entry as evidence of the party’s growing national appeal.
The event concluded with the presentation of ADC membership cards to Pela and his supporters, marking their formal induction into the party in the presence of national, zonal, and state party leaders.