As political maneuvering for the 2027 general elections intensifies, fresh data from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has sparked concerns regarding the viability of a potential “mega-party” alliance involving former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi and others contesting for the party presidential tickets.
Recent figures released following the ADC’s 11-day nationwide online membership drive reveal a startlingly low turnout in the South East zone.
Out of 652,143 new members registered nationally, the South East accounted for only 23,296—a mere 3.57% of the total.
The breakdown for the region shows Ebonyi State at the bottom with just 1,578 registrations, while Imo State led the zone with a modest 7,902. These figures stand in sharp contrast to northern strongholds like Kano and Katsina, which recorded hundreds of thousands of new members during the same period.
ADC leadership has frequently praised Obi’s “Third Force” ideology, positioning the party as a natural home for his supporters – The Obidient family.
However, political analysts warn that these latest registration numbers suggest a “ground-game deficit” in Obi’s home region that could prove fatal to any presidential bid under the ADC banner.
“Politics is a game of numbers and structures,” said Dr. Chidi Nwachukwu, a political scientist based in Enugu. “If the South East, which is Peter Obi’s primary base, is not populating the ranks of a party like the ADC, it suggests a lack of grassroots mobilization. You cannot win a presidency on social media alone; you need registered members to man polling units and defend votes.”
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The low numbers have also triggered internal debate within the ADC. Some party stakeholders in the South East have called for an investigation into the registration process, questioning why the zone lagged so far behind the North-West and North-Central.
Critics argue that if the ADC is to be the vehicle for a “rescue mission” in 2027, the current apathy in the South East must be addressed immediately. Without a surge in local membership, any alliance with Obi might lack the structural “teeth” required to compete with the APC’s established machinery.
As it stands, the ADC’s struggle to gain a foothold in the South East serves as a wake-up call for the “Obidient” movement. If the goal is to occupy the Aso Rock Villa in 2027, the foundation—measured in registered party members—must be significantly stronger than the 3.5% currently seen in the South East.
