A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has expressed confidence that the collaboration between the party and the Obidient Movement will dislodge the All Progressives Congress from power in 2027.

Odigie-Oyegun, a former National Chairman of the APC, spoke on Monday in Benin during the mass defection of members of the Obidient Movement into the ADC in Edo State.

The development comes weeks after former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, formally joined the ADC.

Welcoming the Obidient Movement on Monday, Odigie-Oyegun said the influx of the Obidient Movement into the party signalled the readiness of Nigerians, particularly the youth, to engage in the struggle for a leadership change and national rebirth.

According to him, the calibre of individuals joining the ADC reinforces the belief that a new Nigeria is achievable.

“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 choice to take 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 said dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs in the country 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 added.

Also speaking, 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 at the national level.

“This is the right party to battle the APC in Edo and Nigeria. ADC will take over Edo and the country,” he said.

Idiogbe expressed optimism that the party would field Peter Obi as its presidential candidate and eventually produce the next president.

“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.

He added that leaders of the Obidient Movement were instrumental in building the Labour Party, but insisted that 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 Obidient Movement into the party, saying the development positioned the ADC for strong electoral performance in future elections.

The State Woman Leader, Faith Ebodaghe, described the ADC as a rescue platform, urging 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 key role in Peter Obi’s strong showing in the 2023 presidential election, where he finished third behind President Bola Tinubu of the APC and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has announced March 11, 2026, as the official commencement date for political campaigns ahead of forthcoming governorship election in Osun State.

The Osun INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Mutiu Agboke, disclosed this while responding to questions from journalists during an expanded stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Commission to mark the start of the second phase of the Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise in Osogbo on Monday.

According to Agboke, the campaign timeline would be formally communicated to political actors in line with existing Electoral Act and guidelines.


“By God’s grace, full campaign activities will commence on March 11, 2026. We will still meet with stakeholders, especially political parties, to brief them appropriately,” he said.

He explained that the Commission would outline campaign protocols to guide political parties throughout the process.

“We are going to roll out the protocols and conduct of political parties in line with the Electoral Act, as the relevant sections are there to guide everyone,” Agboke stated.

The Osun INEC boss emphasised the need for collective responsibility in achieving credible electoral processes in the state.

Reflecting on previous engagements, Agboke said collaboration played a major role in the success of the first phase of the CVR.

“We want cooperation, understanding and proper togetherness in the execution of INEC activities. The first phase was successful because INEC and stakeholders came together beforehand to identify grey areas,” he said.

He noted that a similar approach was being adopted for the second phase in order to consolidate earlier gains.

“As we commence the second phase of the CVR, we believe building on the progress already made will lead to another success,” he said.

Agboke also revealed plans to rotate registration equipment across communities to improve access for prospective voters.

“Now we are going to start rotation of the CVR, where the IVES will be taken to communities for the registrants to participate.

“The stakeholders agreed with us on this assuring that they will participate and they have also shown their readiness to cooperate and ensure the success of the exercise,” he concluded.

The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Felix Morka, has said that at the right time, the party would reveal its position regarding the impeachment move against Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State and the political crisis in the state.

Morka assured that APC is not disengaged from the political crisis in the state.

The Rivers State House of Assembly had initiated an impeachment process against Fubara over misappropriation of funds and other allegations.


Fubara’s impeachment is an offshoot of the struggle for political control between Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in the state.

However, in an interview on TVC’s Beyond Headlines, Morka said: “The fact that I’m not willing to make a comment on your show does not mean that the APC is disengaged in Rivers State.

“We are a political party, and a responsible party at that. Our job is to govern our party maturely. When it’s time to share our positions or decisions on discussions, be rest assured that I will come here and share it boldly.

“But you know there are processes that must be enabled to do their job so that at the end of the day, we call it right.”