ABUJA — In a move signaling a major shift in Nigeria’s opposition landscape, the 36 state chairmen of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) held a high-stakes strategic meeting with Mr. Peter Obi at the Obidient Headquarters in Abuja on Friday, January 23, 2026.
The meeting, which was convened at the formal request of the state-level party leadership, served as a platform for intensive deliberations on repositioning the ADC as the primary national vehicle for governance reform ahead of the 2027 general elections. Drawing from grassroots realities across the federation, the chairmen engaged in a comprehensive review of the country’s developmental challenges, specifically focusing on the collapse of local government autonomy and the worsening economic conditions at the community level.
A significant portion of the discussions was dedicated to the internal restructuring of the ADC to ensure it possesses the institutional capacity to challenge the status quo. During the session, Peter Obi delivered a pointed address emphasizing that the party must be defined by a new culture of discipline, integrity, transparency, and accountability.
He urged the leadership to pivot toward issue-based politics and cautioned against the “toxic allure” of ethnic-driven and patronage-based campaigns that have historically hindered Nigeria’s progress. Obi stressed that the dignity and aspirations of the Nigerian people must remain the non-negotiable priority of the party’s leadership at all levels, rather than the personal or sectional interests of political actors.
The 36 state chairmen, speaking collectively through their representatives, reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining total party unity and fostering a culture of internal democracy that empowers local chapters. They pledged to pursue a path of strategic collaboration and ideological clarity, aiming to present the ADC as a credible, nationally acceptable political alternative. The chairmen further resolved to intensify membership drives across the 774 local government areas, specifically targeting the youth and women demographics that formed the core of the “Obidient” movement in the previous election cycle.
This meeting follows recent reports of high-profile realignments within the opposition, including the rumored entry of several federal lawmakers into the ADC. Political analysts suggest that this strategic forum marks the beginning of a coordinated effort by Peter Obi and the ADC leadership to consolidate the “Third Force” into a robust national structure.
The participants concluded the session with a shared mandate to transform the ADC into a trusted instrument for sustainable development, signaling that the party is now moving from a phase of ideological consultation to active political mobilization for the 2027 polls.
