The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has recorded a significant surge in membership in Abia State, welcoming about 5,000 new members barely a week after former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, officially joined the party.
The mass defection was led on Sunday by Bishop Emeka Nwankpa, the 2023 governorship candidate of the Accord Party, at his country home in Umuaku, Ntigha, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of the state.
Supporters who defected alongside Nwankpa said they resigned from their former political parties and structures, including the South East Mandate for Good Governance, before aligning with the ADC under his leadership.
Addressing the gathering, Nwankpa said his decision to join the ADC was driven by deep conviction, noting that the party’s manifesto aligns closely with his political philosophy, which he described as rooted in people-oriented governance, social justice, and sustainable development.
He described the ADC as a credible and progressive political platform capable of delivering inclusive leadership and restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s political system. According to him, the party presents a fresh opportunity for Nigerians seeking purposeful and accountable governance.
Bishop Nwankpa and the new members were formally received into the party by the Abia State Chairman of the ADC, Mr Don Norman Obinna, who described the development as a clear indication of the shifting political tide in the country.
Obinna said the growing wave of defections reflects a changing national political direction, adding that the ADC is increasingly being seen as a viable platform for genuine political reform and national renewal.
