Fresh internal discord appears to be brewing within the newly formed coalition led by the African Democratic Congress (ADC), following a leaked memo from the Obidient Movement to Labour Party’s 2023 presidential flagbearer, Peter Obi.
In the document dated July 29, 2025, and signed by the National Coordinator, Dr. Tanko Yunusa, the movement expressed deep dissatisfaction over what it described as systemic exclusion of its members from crucial decision-making platforms within the coalition.
The ADC coalition was formally unveiled on July 2, 2025, as a strategic alliance aimed at unseating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 elections. The event saw the presence of political heavyweights including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and ex-SGF Babachir Lawal.
Despite the coalition’s high-profile launch, Obi is yet to officially defect to the ADC, although the party’s interim national publicity secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, confirmed that both Obi and El-Rufai had been granted waivers to remain in their legacy parties for the time being.
However, the Obidient Movement,an influential grassroots political force loyal to Obi has raised serious concerns over their exclusion from coalition activities.
“Our members are being deliberately sidelined,” the memo stated. “They are not invited to critical meetings where key decisions are made, and this undermines the mutual trust required for such a partnership to succeed.”
The group further criticized what they described as a lack of representation in the coalition’s structure, saying it fails to acknowledge the Obidient Movement’s contributions and nationwide reach.
To address these issues, the memo urged Peter Obi to intervene directly, proposing that at least two Obidient representatives, one active and one non-active be included in each geopolitical zone within the coalition’s operational structure.
“We are committed to the goal of building a united and effective political front, but inclusivity must be part of the process,” Yunusa added. “These corrective measures are necessary to build confidence and ensure the coalition remains on track.”
The leaked memo has stirred concern among political observers, with many warning that unresolved internal tensions could weaken the coalition’s electoral strategy heading into the 2027 polls.
