Olumide Akpata, ex-LP Edo governorship candidate, defects to ADC, joining Peter Obi and strengthening opposition ahead of 2027 elections

Mr Olumide Akpata, former Labour Party (LP) candidate in the 2024 Edo State governorship election and ex-president of the Nigerian Bar Association, has formally joined the African Democratic Congress.

The move was completed on Tuesday during a ceremony at the ADC secretariat in Benin, where state Chairman Kennedy Odion presented Akpata with his membership card in the presence of the party’s state and national leadership.

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Notable figures at the event included Peter Obi, presidential aspirant and ADC stalwart, and John Odigie-Oyegun, former APC National Chairman and first executive governor of Edo State. Former governor Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor was also present.

Akpata expressed gratitude for the reception and emphasised his decision to join ADC as a way to contribute meaningfully to the party, particularly after Obi’s defection on December 31, 2025.

He commended the ‘Obidient Movement’ for its dedication and highlighted his commitment to advancing a new political direction.

Obi, speaking at the event, reaffirmed his vision for a more equitable Nigeria, noting that forces were acting to hinder progress.

“Our commitment to a new Nigeria is total, though they are doing everything possible to stop us. 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,” he said.

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He added that the nation must shift from a focus on consumption to one of production, underscoring the party’s development agenda.

The defection of Akpata strengthens the ADC’s position in Edo and signals a consolidation of opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general elections.