A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Usman Okai, has urged prominent opposition figures, including Seyi Makinde and Bala Mohammed, to leave the Peoples Democratic Party and join the ADC ahead of upcoming ward congresses.
Okai made the call in a statement issued Monday in Abuja. He also appealed to members of the PDP Governors’ Forum and a faction of the party led by Kabiru Turaki to consider aligning with the ADC.
The appeal comes amid a deepening crisis within the PDP following its national convention held in Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria, on Nov. 15 and 16, 2025. The convention has been challenged in several court cases.
On Monday, the Court of Appeal upheld an earlier ruling restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognizing the outcome of the convention, leaving the party facing continued leadership uncertainty.
Okai said the development raised concerns about the political future of PDP members seeking elective positions ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
“The Court of Appeal’s affirmation of the injunction against the Ibadan convention signals the likely direction of the Supreme Court,” Okai said.
“There is a high probability that all primaries will be concluded before the Supreme Court delivers a final determination. If the convention is eventually nullified, every candidate produced under that structure will be automatically disqualified. Staying in the PDP is a risk no serious politician should take,” he added.
Okai described the situation within the PDP as a significant political challenge for members of the party with ambitions in the next general elections.
He said the ADC was positioned to accommodate politicians seeking an alternative platform amid the uncertainty within the opposition party.
“I therefore call on Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi and others to join the ADC,” he said.
Okai also urged supporters at the grassroots to take advantage of the party’s upcoming direct primaries by registering with the ADC and strengthening its structures across the country.
“We are inviting all progressives to embrace the ADC ahead of the ward congresses. This is the only way to build a viable alternative. If we are to rescue the country, we must register now and move as a united front,” he said.
