Obidient Movement Members in Edo Defect to ADC, Cite Commitment to Leadership Change

 

Members of the Obidient Movement in Edo State have formally joined the African Democratic Congress, marking a significant political realignment ahead of the next electoral cycle.

The defection, which took place on Monday, follows reports of their leader, Peter Obi, moving into the ADC, a development that has generated considerable attention within the Nigerian political landscape.

Receiving the new members, the National Leader of the ADC, Chief John Oyegun, described their decision as evidence that Nigerians were prepared to embrace the struggle for leadership change in the country. Oyegun, a former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, expressed confidence that a new Nigeria was achievable with the calibre of individuals now aligning with the party.

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“A new Nigeria is truly possible. A few days ago, I was in the hall when a colourful and important personality, Dele Momodu, joined us,” Oyegun said during the reception ceremony.

“Today is the first time I have seen youths so committed to nation-building. It is my first time meeting members of the Obidient Movement in this number. We are convinced that the youth of this country are ready.”

Oyegun, who served as APC national chairman between 2014 and 2018, added that the coalition assembled by the ADC had convinced him the party was on the right path.

“I am sure you are not happy with what is happening in Nigeria and Edo State. Remember that the chairman said that we have one target: we have a country to save. We must ensure that, through the ADC, we make a new Nigeria possible,” he stated.

The Obidient Movement emerged as a prominent grassroots political force during the 2023 general elections, rallying largely young and urban voters behind Peter Obi, who contested the presidential election on the platform of the Labour Party. The movement’s ability to mobilise supporters through social media and street-level campaigns marked a departure from traditional political mobilisation in Nigeria.

However, internal disputes within the Labour Party and dissatisfaction with the party’s direction have led to fractures within the movement. The defection of Edo State members to the ADC represents one of the most visible realignments since the 2023 elections.

The Edo State Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Asemota Igiogbe, said the ADC was the right party to challenge the APC in Edo State and across Nigeria. He expressed the expectation that Peter Obi would emerge as the party’s flagbearer and eventually become president.

“This is the right party to battle the APC in Edo and Nigeria. ADC will take over Edo and the country. We expect Peter Obi to be the president. We are here to build the party, not to ask for positions,” Igiogbe said.

He added that the movement’s strength lay in its grassroots appeal and self-funded mobilisation efforts.

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“We will influence the masses to vote for the ADC. The party is for people who want a better Nigeria. I want to let you know that the current leaders were the people who made the Labour Party thick. Now that we have fused into the ADC, Labour is no more,” he stated.

Igiogbe also criticised former allies who, according to him, won elections on the platform of the movement but later defected to the APC.

“We don’t share money to mobilise people. We are self-funded. Some of those who won on our platform betrayed us and joined the APC,” he said.

The state chairman of the ADC, Kenneth Odion, commended the Obidient Movement for joining the party, expressing confidence that the ADC was well-positioned to perform strongly in the next election. His remarks reflected the party’s optimism about leveraging the movement’s grassroots energy to expand its political footprint in Edo State and beyond.

Also speaking at the event, the state woman leader of the ADC, Faith Ebhogabhe, described the party as being on a rescue mission.

“We are the David God sent to Goliath. We are going to bring the APC down with your voters’ cards,” she said.

“We are taking over the country, no matter what they have taken from us. The pain is enough. The moment we deliver, the pains will be no more. We are here to change the narrative. Women must be ready to fly.”

The African Democratic Congress was founded in 2006 and has contested several elections at the national and state levels, though it has struggled to secure major electoral victories. The party has positioned itself as an alternative to the dominant APC and the People’s Democratic Party, seeking to attract disaffected voters and opposition figures.

The recent coalition efforts and high-profile defections, including that of publisher and former presidential candidate Dele Momodu, signal a renewed push by the ADC to consolidate opposition forces ahead of future elections.

Edo State, which has experienced intense political competition in recent years, is expected to be a key battleground. The state’s 2024 governatorial election was closely contested, and the entry of the Obidient Movement into the ADC could reshape the dynamics of future electoral contests.

The formal movement of Peter Obi into the ADC has not been officially confirmed by the former Anambra State governor himself, though speculation has intensified following the defection of his supporters in multiple states. Political analysts have noted that Obi’s next political move will be closely watched, given his performance in the 2023 presidential election and the enduring support he enjoys among certain voter demographics.