By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
Former presidential candidate and Ovation Magazine publisher, Mr Dele Momodu, will on Thursday, January 15, 2026, formally defect to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in a move seen as part of ongoing efforts to build a united opposition ahead of the 2027 general election.
Momodu, a close political ally of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, is among prominent opposition figures advocating a broad-based coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s expected re-election bid. Proponents of the initiative argue that a fragmented opposition cannot effectively counter the dominance of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The formal declaration is scheduled to take place in Benin City, Edo State, at the new ADC State Secretariat, where senior party officials and political leaders are expected to attend.
Speaking with The PUNCH on Wednesday, Momodu described his defection as a “homecoming” and expressed optimism about the ADC platform. He said he would pay homage to Edo State elders who have joined the party, including former national chairman of the APC, Chief John Oyegun, and former federal lawmaker, Yisa Braimoh.
According to him, the defection aligns with the wider opposition strategy of forging a formidable coalition capable of unseating the ruling party in 2027. He maintained that only a united front could safeguard Nigeria’s democratic system.
Momodu also called on Nigerians to put aside partisan differences in defence of democracy, urging citizens across political parties to rally around what he described as a national rescue mission.
He stressed that his decision to join the ADC was not motivated by personal ambition for elective office but by what he termed a higher national interest, insisting that democracy must be protected at all costs for the good of the country and its people.
