In a dramatic political twist, former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has officially defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), declaring the party as the nation’s new rescue platform.
Oyegun received his ADC membership card on Tuesday at the party’s state secretariat in Benin City from the state chairman, Kennedy Odion.
Welcoming him, Odion described Oyegun as a master strategist and coalition builder.
“He built a successful coalition before, and he’s doing it again,” Odion said. “With his leadership, ADC is poised to take center stage in Nigeria’s political recovery.”
Oyegun, a founding member and former chairman of the APC, said he and his team consulted seven political parties before settling on the ADC as the most credible platform for national redemption.
“We explored our options, talked to many, but none matched the vision and integrity of ADC,” Oyegun stated. “This party is serious about change, not just in words, but in structure and direction.”
He accused the APC-led government of worsening Nigeria’s problems, including economic hardship, insecurity, and deepening national disunity.
“This country has never been more divided. What we see today under President Bola Tinubu is alarming. Nigeria is in distress, and we can’t stand by,” Oyegun said.
He also dismissed claims that the coalition within the ADC aims to destabilize the government, describing such rumors as desperate attempts to undermine a rising force.
“The ADC is no longer a small party. Today, it’s a coalition of credible leaders from the APC, PDP, and beyond. More are coming. What started as a party is becoming a national movement,” he added.
With Oyegun's defection, the ADC gains not just a high-profile figure but also renewed momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Political watchers see this as a major blow to the ruling APC and a strong signal of realignment across Nigeria’s political landscape.
