A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has expressed confidence that the alliance between the party and the Obidient Movement will dislodge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
Odigie-Oyegun, a former National Chairman of the APC, made the assertion on Monday in Benin City during the mass defection of members of the Obidient Movement into the ADC in Edo State.
The development comes weeks after the former Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, formally joined the ADC.
Welcoming members of the Obidient Movement into the party, Odigie-Oyegun said the influx signalled the readiness of Nigerians, especially young people, to actively engage in the struggle for leadership change and national rebirth.
According to him, the calibre of individuals joining the ADC reinforces the belief that a better Nigeria is attainable.
“A new Nigeria is truly possible,” Odigie-Oyegun said.
“A few days ago, I was in a hall when a colourful and important personality, Dele Momodu, joined us. Today is the first time I am seeing youths who are genuinely committed to nation-building. It is also my first time meeting members of the Obidient Movement in this number, and we are convinced that the youth of this country are ready.”
He described the decision of the Obidient Movement to join the ADC as a deliberate step towards taking ownership of the struggle for change.
“You have decided to take up the struggle yourselves by joining the ADC, and I am happy. From the day this coalition came together, I was convinced that we are on the right path,” he said.
Odigie-Oyegun added that dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs in Nigeria and Edo State should serve as motivation for collective action.
“We have one target: we have a country to save. We must ensure that through the ADC, we make a new Nigeria possible,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, the Edo State Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Asemota Idiogbe, said the ADC provided the most viable platform to challenge the APC both in Edo State and nationally.
“This is the right party to battle the APC in Edo and Nigeria. ADC will take over Edo and the country,” Idiogbe said.
He expressed optimism that the party would field Peter Obi as its presidential candidate and ultimately produce the next president of Nigeria.
“We expect Peter Obi to be the President. We are here to strengthen the party, not to ask for positions. We will influence the masses to vote for the ADC. The party is for people who want a better Nigeria,” he said.
Idiogbe added that while leaders of the Obidient Movement were instrumental in building the Labour Party, the movement had now fully merged into the ADC.
“We are self-funded. We do not share money to mobilise people. Some of those who won on our platform betrayed us and joined the APC,” he said.
The Edo State Chairman of the ADC, Kenneth Odion, welcomed the defectors, noting that the development positioned the party for strong electoral performance in future polls.
Similarly, the State Woman Leader, Faith Ebodaghe, described the ADC as a rescue platform and urged women to play an active role in the political struggle.
“The ADC is on a rescue mission. We are the David sent to confront Goliath. With our voter cards, we will bring down the APC,” she said.
“The pain is enough. When we deliver, the pain will be no more. Women must be ready to fly and change the narrative.”
The Obidient Movement played a major role in Peter Obi’s performance in the 2023 presidential election, where he finished third behind President Bola Tinubu of the APC and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
