Benin City witnessed a significant realignment in Nigeria’s opposition landscape on Tuesday as Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party’s candidate in the 2024 Edo governorship election, formally defected to the African Democratic Congress, marking another chapter in the fluid dynamics of party affiliations ahead of future polls.
The ceremony at the ADC’s state secretariat drew a cross-section of political heavyweights, underscoring the growing momentum around figures disillusioned with mainstream platforms. Akpata, who previously served as president of the Nigerian Bar Association from 2020 to 2022, received his ADC membership card from the party’s state chairman, Kennedy Odion, in the presence of national and state leaders.
Among those in attendance were Peter Obi, the former Anambra governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential aspirant; Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, who was the first executive governor of Edo State from 1992 to 1993 and later national chairman of the All Progressives Congress from 2016 to 2018; and Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, another former Edo governor who held office briefly in 2007 before a court ruling ousted him in 2008. Their presence highlighted the event’s weight, blending veteran statesmen with emerging reformist voices.
In his address, Akpata expressed appreciation for the reception extended to him. “I am grateful for the warm reception,” he said, according to a public statement from the gathering. He also commended the ADC for its vision of a renewed Nigeria and acknowledged the resilience of the Obidient Movement, the grassroots support base that propelled Obi’s 2023 campaign. Akpata explained his decision, noting that he aimed to contribute meaningfully to the party, particularly following Obi’s own defection to the ADC on December 31, 2025.
Obi, in his remarks, reaffirmed his dedication to national transformation. “Our commitment to a new Nigeria is total, though they are doing everything possible to stop us,” he stated. “We must build a nation that works for all, not just a few. This country is currently working for a few; it shouldn’t be so. We are all Nigerians. As a matter of fact, we must move this country from the status of consumption to production.”
Odigie-Oyegun echoed sentiments of urgency and growth. “Our stocks are growing every day, not just in number but in quality,” he said. “Nigeria is a nation that needs to be saved.”
This defection comes against a backdrop of recent security concerns involving some of the same figures. Public reports indicate that Obi and Odigie-Oyegun narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in Benin City earlier this month, with Obi later breaking his silence on the incident. Video footage circulating from the event showed the duo evading gunmen, an attack that has raised questions about political safety in Edo State amid heightened tensions.
Akpata’s move from the Labour Party to the ADC reflects a broader pattern of political migrations in Nigeria, where defections have been a staple since the return to civilian rule in 1999. Official records from the Independent National Electoral Commission show that over 1,000 elected officials switched parties between 2015 and 2023 alone, often citing ideological mismatches or strategic positioning for elections. The Labour Party, which surged in popularity during the 2023 general elections—garnering over six million votes for Obi and securing governorships in states like Abia—has faced internal fractures, with several high-profile members exiting amid disputes over leadership and primaries.
The ADC, founded in 2005 by Ralph Okey Nwosu, has historically positioned itself as a progressive alternative, though it has struggled for national dominance. In the 2019 presidential election, its candidate polled just over 97,000 votes, per INEC data, compared to major parties’ millions. Obi’s recent entry into the ADC, as publicly announced on December 31, 2025, appears to signal an attempt to consolidate opposition forces outside the dominant Peoples Democratic Party and All Progressives Congress duopoly.
Edo State’s political history adds layers to this development. Created in 1991 from the old Bendel State, Edo has seen a revolving door of governors from various parties, with the APC holding power since 2016 under Godwin Obaseki, who himself defected from the APC to the PDP in 2020. The 2024 governorship race, where Akpata ran on the LP ticket, was marred by allegations of irregularities; INEC declared the APC’s Monday Okpebholo the winner with 291,667 votes, while Akpata secured 22,763, placing third behind the PDP’s 247,274.
The Obidient Movement, which originated as a youth-led, social media-driven phenomenon in 2022, has evolved into a symbol of anti-establishment sentiment. Surveys by organizations like NOI Polls in 2023 estimated that over 70 percent of Nigerian youth under 35 identified with calls for systemic change, fueling movements like EndSARS in 2020 and influencing voter turnout, which rose to 27 percent in 2023 from 35 percent in 2019, according to INEC statistics.
