Senator Roland Owie
Consequent upon the protracted leadership crisis that had plagued the Edo State chapter of the African Democratic Congress, (ADC) some prominent members led by former Chief Whip of the Senate, Roland Owie, and including a founding member and one of the financiers of the party, Sunny Aguebor, on Wednesday ‘ported’ to the burgeoning Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Citing alleged hijacking of the party in the state and the crisis affecting it at the national level, Senator Owie lashed out at a former governor of the state, John Odigie-Oyegun and other leaders of the party, derisively telling them to keep the ADC.
While contending that the way and manner the state leadership emerged was not proper, accusing Odigie-Oyegun of hijacking the party, Owie alleged that tickets of the party were being kept for people who were yet to join the party.
Aguebor, for his part, noted that the NDC is clean and without legal encumbrances, unlike the ADC that is facing legal battles.
According to the former federal lawmaker, “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, did a mini-primary for the two aspirants that indicated interest for that position but along the line, Oyegun and one or two persons took a decision and said they have chosen another candidate.
“That is one of the major reasons for our people coming 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, House of Reps seats for people who have not joined ADC? What they say at 8am is not what they say at 10am; what they say, I say, at 10am, will not be the same they say at 2pm.
“I can tell you that all real members of the ADC in the state have gone to the NDC. When I say real members, I mean those who were not one leg in APC and one leg in ADC.”
When asked how he would handle the national politics of the NDC being a supporter of Atiku Abubakar who is still in the ADC, Owie said “You know, politics is local; national politics will come at the appropriate time.”
Contacted for his comment on the effect that the defections could have on the party, the State Publicity Secretary-elect of the ADC, Christopher Ojeikere, said the party was not perturbed by the development and that it was preparing for its primaries to pick its candidates for the 2027 elections as prescribed by the Electoral Act 2026.