Ex-senate chief whip, others defect from ADC to NDC in Edo

The defections rocking the African Democratic Congress continued in Edo State on Wednesday as some prominent members quit the party.

Among them are a former Chief Whip of the Senate, Sir Rowland Owie, and a founding member of the party, Sunny Aguebor, who, alongside others, defected to the Nigeria Democratic Congress.

They cited alleged hijacking of the party in the state and the crisis affecting it at the national level.

Owie said the manner in which the state leadership emerged was improper, alleging that the party was hijacked by a former governor of the state, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

He also alleged that party tickets were being reserved for individuals yet to join the party.

Aguebor, on his part, said the NDC was free of legal encumbrances, unlike the ADC, which he said was facing legal challenges.

Owie said, “The administration of the party, especially in Edo South, became lunatic.

“The position of chairman of the party was zoned to Edo South and it was micro-zoned to Oredo Local Government Area. Oredo Local Government, in their wisdom, conducted a mini primary for the two aspirants that indicated interest in that position, but along the line, Oyegun and one or two persons took a decision and said they had chosen another candidate.

“That is one of the major reasons our people came to me to say that they were tired. We are going to NDC, so we have moved; let them keep the ADC.

“Do you know some of them were reserving senatorial seats and House of Representatives seats for people who have not joined ADC? What they say at 8am is not what they say at 10am; what they say at 10am will not be the same as what they say at 2 pm.

“I can tell you that all real members of the ADC in the state have gone to NDC. When I say real members, I mean those who do not have one leg in APC and one leg in NDC.”

When asked how he would handle the national politics of the ADC, being a supporter of Atiku Abubakar who is still in the party, Owie said, “You know, politics is local; national politics will come at the appropriate time.”

Reacting, the State Publicity Secretary-elect of the ADC, Christopher Ojeikere, said the party was not worried by the development and was preparing for its primaries ahead of the 2027 elections.

“The party is not worried about this development, and I can tell you that we are preparing for our primaries to pick candidates for the 2027 election,” he said.