News
ADC taps Obidient movement as key force for 2027
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Coalition has emphasized the importance of the Obidient movement in shaping Nigeria’s political trajectory ahead of the 2027 general elections, noting that many of its members already hold positions within the coalition’s leadership.
The Obidient movement, which sprang up in the run-up to the 2023 elections, built a strong grassroots base in support of Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate.
READ ALSO: 2027 in focus as political big wigs in ADC meet (PHOTOS)
Primarily driven by youths, professionals, and digital activists, the group championed Obi as a credible alternative to the established political order.
Speaking on Arise Television, ADC chieftain Chille Igbawua dismissed suggestions that Obi was disconnected from the movement or the coalition.
“They may be thinking that maybe they are better off identifying as the Obedients. But I can assure you that Obedients themselves are not static; they are growing. Don’t you need their Obedience in 2027? We definitely need them. And several of them are in the leadership of the party of the ADC, as I’m speaking to you,” he said.
Igbawua clarified that Obi has been actively involved in the coalition’s activities despite occasional remarks from movement members that appear to misrepresent him.
“Sometimes when members of the Obedient make statements, we doubt whether they are consulting him. But Peter Obi has been participating in the process of the coalition right from the beginning until now,” he explained.
He further stressed Obi’s role in shaping the ADC’s leadership and structures.
“The issue is that the vital and critical processes that we are going through, Peter Obi is part of it. He’s part of, you know, the leadership that constituted the reconstituted National Working Committee and NEC.
“And if you have no keen interest in a political party and you are moving your principal persons into their leadership, then I don’t know what else will show us that. He’s not from outside,” he said.
Addressing divisions within the Labour Party, Igbawua noted that internal cracks had also affected the Obidient movement. However, he insisted that those loyal to Obi were firmly aligned with the ADC.
“We are working with them. The national chairman of the party, of the Labour Party, is with us at meetings every time we meet, along with Peter Obi,” he added.
On the coalition’s larger strategy, Igbawua explained that preparation for governance was ongoing, with a focus on building solid party structures and policy documents.
> “We are working towards a workable manifesto, and we are working towards developing a blueprint for an ADC government. So that when we come into government, we’re not going to start looking left and right, what do we do? Because these are being worked upon. And so we’re coming ready to start to hit the ground running on day one when we take over, you know, governance in Nigeria,” he said.
The wives of the five engineers allegedly murdered in Ebonyi State yesterday rejected the comments attributed to the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, on the development, describing it as an attempt to “sweep the truth under the carpet”. The group renewed calls for an independent reinvestigation into the case.
Nelson Onyemeh, Ernest Edeani, Ikechukwu Ejiofor, Samuel Aneke, and Stanley Nwazulum were reportedly kidnapped in November 2021 while supervising construction work on the Abakaliki Ring Road project.
The protesting women, whose husbands were consultants with NELAN Engineering firm, accused authorities of inconsistencies, interference, and a possible cover-up in the handling of the case, which dates back to November 3, 2021.
In a statement, Mrs. Patricia Onyemeh, Mrs. Lovette Edeani, Mrs. Ifeoma Ejiofor, Mrs. Esther Aneke, and Mrs. Nwazulum faulted Umahi’s claim that the engineers were victims of a communal crisis, as they insisted no such conflict occurred at the time.
They said: “The characterisation of the disappearance of the five engineers as a consequence of communal crisis is completely outrageous, misconceived, and flawed.” The engineers, according to the families, travelled to Ebonyi for an official meeting linked to the African Development Bank-funded ring road project when Umahi was governor.
They said: “Credible accounts indicate that our husbands were last seen in connection with official engagements tied to the Ebonyi Ring Road project. “This raises serious questions as to whether the incident can be fairly reduced to communal violence.”
They further alleged that while investigations were ongoing, Umahi announced that the engineers had been killed and buried, a move they said raised “serious suspicions”. The women said: “This announcement by a sitting governor, while security agencies were still tracking movements, raises grave concerns.”
The women also questioned the sudden removal of a Department of State Services (DSS) investigator, Victor Onyesom, who was reportedly handling the case.
They further accused the police of presenting unidentified skeletal remains to the families without conducting DNA tests. The group said: “The police claimed the remains were those of our husbands, but refused DNA testing.
You risk getting into trouble if you by any means, join in spreading the rumour that Tony O. Elumelu, because it is manifestly false, United Bank for Africa, one of the establishments of the popular Nigerian business mogul, warned on Monday.
Against the backdrop of rumours spreading across the social media, the bank rejected the claims as fake and damaging, saying at no time did the industrialist and Chairman of the Heirs Holdings, divorce his wife, Awele Vivien Elumelu.
The bank, in a statement, which also described the story as also defamatory, and malicious publication, the statement said: “These statements and all similar content are entirely fabricated, reckless, and without basis. The claims are a deliberate falsehood designed to mislead the public and cause reputational harm.”
Stressing that the matter had been reported to law enforcement authorities, the statement, signed by Alero Ladipo, confirmed that three people linked to the publication had been arrested.
Naming those involved in spreading the rumour as Mr Kingsley Akunemeihe (@Directorkem), Mr Chigozie Success Ihebom, and Mr John Surpruchi Nwanorue (@problemchimky), the bank informed that investigations were ongoing and could lead to more arrests and prosecutions.
The statement added: “Investigations are ongoing and are expected to lead to further arrests and prosecutions of all persons involved in originating, amplifying, or sustaining this defamatory campaign. This serves as a formal notice to all individuals, platforms, and entities involved in the publication, reposting, or continued dissemination of this content to immediately cease and desist.
“Failure to comply will result in the initiation of legal proceedings, including claims for defamation, injunctive relief, damages, and any other remedies available under applicable law.
“The UBA Group is resolute in protecting the reputation, privacy, and integrity of our brand, that of Mr. Elumelu and will pursue all necessary legal avenues — civil and criminal — to ensure that all responsible parties are identified and held accountable.”
Abdulrahman Mohammad, National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), belonging to the camp of Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), all but scoffed at the 13-member Interim National Working Committee (INWC), raised by the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) as a non-event.
In a statement, shortly after the committee was announced by Adolphus Wabara, PDP BoT Chairman, Mohammed dismissed claims upon which the body rested its decision after its 103rd National Executive Committee (NEC), describing the development as illegitimate and misleading.
The embattled party boss, who conveyed his position through, Jungudo Mohammed, spokesman of the camp, said: “The PDP wishes to categorically state that no such meeting was convened by the leadership of the party. Consequently, any resolutions, announcements, or claims emanating from that gathering are null, void, and of no effect.”
Stressing the irony in individuals he claimed previously opposed the idea of a caretaker committee, now embracing it, he said every NEC meeting must be preceded with due notification to the Independent National Electoral Commission to be valied.
Hear him: “Even if, for the sake of argument, they possessed the legal authority to convene such a meeting (which they do not), they have once again failed to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
“Specifically, the mandatory requirement to give the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) a minimum of 21 days’ notice for such a meeting was blatantly ignored. There is no evidence of compliance, nor was INEC in attendance as required by law. This alone renders their actions null and void.”
Mohammed questioned the authority of the BoT, a mere advisory body to raise the 13-man committee led by Taminu Turaki, saying such a move ran against the grains of the PDP constitution, urging relevant regulatory bodies to examine the conduct of those involved, particularly members of the senior bar.
Describing the development as part of a pattern, the party said the alleged NEC meeting was a continuation of earlier failed attempts to create confusion within its ranks.
His words: “We therefore call on all party members, stakeholders, and the general public to completely disregard this illegitimate assembly and its outcomes. It has no constitutional basis, no legal standing, and no binding authority whatsoever.
“The PDP remains committed to upholding its constitution, the rule of law, and democratic principles under the able leadership of Abdulrahman Mohammad and Senator Samuel N. Anyawu.”
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