ADC Chairman Urges Mass Registration to Boost Peter Obi’s Primary Chances
The Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Abia State, Don Norman Obinna, has called on party members and supporters of former presidential candidate Peter Obi in Nigeria’s South-East region to actively participate in the ongoing online membership registration. Obinna stated that widespread registration is critical for Obi to secure the ADC’s presidential nomination in the upcoming primary election.
Speaking as a special guest at the inauguration of the Coalition for the Protection of Democracy (COPDEM) executive for Ikwuano, Umuahia North, and Umuahia South Local Government Areas in Umuahia on Saturday, Obinna highlighted a concerning disparity in registration figures. He noted that while Abia State has approximately 400,000 registered members on the ADC platform, Adamawa State’s figure is nearing one million.
“It is not just about wanting Peter Obi to be President; the question should be how we deliver Peter Obi,” Obinna said. He posed a direct question about the primary’s outcome: “If the primary election is conducted today, will Peter Obi win?” His remarks emphasized that the numerical strength demonstrated through registration will directly influence the party’s flag-bearer selection.
Obinna urged ADC members and COPDEM activists to lead community sensitization efforts, advocating for both mass participation in the e-registration and a broader commitment to good governance and quality leadership.
Also addressing the gathering, the Abia State Chairman of COPDEM, Prince Solomon, along with Ogbonna Abarikwu, a House of Representatives aspirant for the Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal constituency, appealed to Nigerians to reject poor leadership. Their statements framed the registration drive within a larger narrative of democratic engagement and accountability.
The event underscores the strategic importance of membership mobilization for smaller parties like the ADC as they position for the 2027 general elections. With the presidential primary serving as a crucial first step, the push for online registration in key regions such as the South-East is seen as a direct tactic to consolidate support for a prominent figure like Obi, who previously ran under the Labour Party banner. The success of this drive in Abia State may now hinge on translating the chairman’s appeal into tangible increases in the registration numbers.
