Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and first executive governor of Edo State, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, has described the 2013 coalition that birthed the APC ahead of the 2015 elections as a mistake.
He, however, emphasized that past missteps would not hinder ongoing efforts to establish a new political direction for Nigeria.
Speaking at his Benin City residence on Friday while hosting stakeholders from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Oyegun said the time had come for a national political realignment focused on restoring democracy and good governance. He acknowledged the regrets expressed earlier by Professor Osarhiemen Osunbor, a former governor of Edo State, and aligned himself fully with the sentiments.
“We accept our failings. We removed a government we called clueless, but I honestly don’t have the words for what we replaced it with,” Oyegun stated candidly. “The story of success is not how many times you fall but how many times you rise. We are back in the struggle, and this time we know what we are doing. It will not fail.”
Oyegun noted that the stakeholders’ meeting was convened to inaugurate a committee responsible for overseeing ADC’s membership registration and revalidation process across Edo State. He stressed that the initiative would be carried out in close collaboration with the party’s state coalition, ensuring a smooth and inclusive process.
According to Oyegun, the new effort aims to mobilize support across the grassroots, allowing the ADC’s message to reach all corners of Edo State. He also disclosed that the ADC had recently welcomed additional groups from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) into its fold.
“I think the message has largely been understood. Soon, the entire state will reverberate with the name ADC. The newly formed committee will coordinate with the State Working Committee to make the process effective and accessible for every ordinary citizen,” he added.
Also addressing the media after the meeting, Professor Osunbor echoed Oyegun’s concerns about the country’s trajectory, stating that Nigerians are increasingly dissatisfied with the current style of governance.
He explained that the coalition backing the ADC comprises Nigerians from various political backgrounds who are united in their desire to protect and promote multi-party democracy. “What we are seeing now is leaning toward totalitarianism. Our goal is to ensure Nigeria remains a truly democratic nation,” Osunbor declared.
With political disillusionment growing and calls for reform intensifying, the ADC coalition buoyed by prominent figures like Oyegun and Osunbor appears poised to present itself as a formidable force ahead of Nigeria’s next general elections.
