Former APC Chairman Oyegun Defects to ADC, Cites Disillusionment with Ruling Party
In what political observers describe as a significant blow to the All Progressives Congress (APC), former National Chairman and elder statesman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has officially dumped the party he once helped lead to victory, aligning instead with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Oyegun, who served as the APC’s national chairman between 2013 and 2018 and played a pivotal role in the party’s historic 2015 electoral victory, announced his decision to join the ADC on Wednesday, citing irreconcilable differences and a loss of confidence in the APC’s direction.
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“This move is not merely about joining another party — it is a protest against the erosion of values within the APC,” a close ally of the former Edo State governor told WellNaija Tribune. “Chief Oyegun feels the APC no longer represents the ideals on which it was founded.”
The development comes amid growing internal strife within the APC, marked by leadership crises, defections, and rising discontent over governance failures. Oyegun’s defection adds momentum to the ADC-led opposition bloc, which has in recent weeks attracted a wave of influential figures from across Nigeria’s political spectrum.
Already, former Air Chief Saddique Abubakar and ex-Governor Oserheimen Osunbor have joined the ADC, with speculation mounting that more defections are imminent as the opposition coalition gains ground ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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Sources familiar with the inner workings of the new opposition coalition say Chief Oyegun played a behind-the-scenes role in endorsing the ADC as the platform of choice for the emerging mega alliance, alongside prominent figures such as Atiku Abubakar and Aminu Tambuwal.
As the ruling party grapples with renewed instability, Oyegun’s exit is widely seen as a symbolic rejection of APC’s current trajectory and a rallying call for those disenchanted with the status quo.
Political analysts warn that unless the APC urgently addresses its internal challenges, the party risks further fragmentation — and possibly, a major loss of political capital in 2027.