By Eze Victor, Abakaliki
The former Acting Chairman of the National Rescue Movement (NRM) in Ebonyi State, Levi Ajah Ibeabuchi, has formally defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), declaring that Nigeria is trapped in a “deep political and socio-economic quagmire” that requires urgent systemic redirection.
Ibeabuchi, a human rights advocate and current Chairman of the Human Rights Aid and Social Justice Initiative, made the declaration while addressing journalists on Monday in Abakaliki, positioning his defection as both ideological and strategic ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to him, the prevailing national condition reflects institutional fragility, economic dislocation, and widespread public disillusionment.
“We are not in a good condition in this country. The reality is evident even to those who may pretend otherwise. Nigeria is in a state of quagmire, and there is no ambiguity about it,” he stated.
Explaining his political recalibration, Ibeabuchi said his decision to align with ADC followed consultations with supporters and associates who, he claimed, have pledged solidarity with his political direction.
He described ADC as a party populated by individuals of “competence, capacity, and verifiable records,” expressing confidence that the platform possesses the institutional depth to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at both national and subnational levels.
“Practically speaking, ADC is positioned to win in 2027. The momentum is organic. Nigerians are yearning for credible alternatives. What we are witnessing across the federation is not mere dissatisfaction but structural fatigue,” he asserted.
He maintained that the current political climate has created what he termed a “transition opportunity,” arguing that electorates are increasingly inclined toward alternative political vehicles capable of restoring governance normalcy and socio-economic stability.
Addressing skepticism surrounding the viability of opposition realignments, Ibeabuchi attributed public hesitation to what he described as “the psychology of fear of the unknown.”
He argued that much of the perceived invincibility of dominant political structures is exaggerated.
“Most of the structures people fear are more mythical than material. Political dominance is sustained by perception. Once citizens overcome fear, democratic shifts become inevitable,” he said.
He urged Nigerians contemplating political participation in 2027 to act with conviction, insisting that transformative change requires civic courage rather than passive observation.
Ibeabuchi, who hails from Amuzu Amaga in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, traced his ideological convictions to global civil rights movements, particularly the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
Referencing the historical episode involving racial segregation in the United States, a catalyst for the American civil rights struggle; he drew parallels between systemic injustice abroad and contemporary governance challenges in Nigeria.
He cited the defiance that led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott as a demonstration of how collective civic resistance can reshape national trajectories.
“History teaches us that organized conviction can dismantle entrenched injustice. If you are created to fly, then fly. If you must walk, walk but move. Nations are transformed when citizens refuse paralysis,” he said.
Projecting toward the 2027 electoral cycle, Ibeabuchi expressed optimism that ADC would consolidate grassroots momentum and reposition itself as a formidable national contender.
He described his defection as “a movement rather than an individual shift,” claiming that a significant number of supporters have pledged to align with him within the new political platform.
“Nigeria can change again. But change will not come from fear. It will come from deliberate participation,” he concluded.
Observers said his defection has added to the evolving dynamics within Ebonyi’s political landscape as parties begin early maneuvering ahead of the next general elections.
