In the wake of recent legal challenges facing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kogi political activist and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain Usman Austin Okai has called on prominent opposition leaders to defect to the ADC without delay.
In a statement released on Monday, Okai urged members of the PDP Governors’ Forum, including Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, and the Turaki-led faction, to join the ADC ahead of the upcoming ward congresses.
The call comes shortly after a Court of Appeal ruling on March 9, 2026, which upheld a Federal High Court injunction preventing the recognition of the disputed PDP convention held in Ibadan.
He warned that the legal instability within the PDP is a “ticking time bomb” for anyone with 2027 ambitions.
According to Okai: “The Court of Appeal’s affirmation of the injunction against the Ibadan convention signals the likely direction of the Supreme Court.
“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.”
Noting that ADC is a viable alternative, Okai noted that the party is strategically positioned to serve as a sanctuary for those displaced by the PDP’s internal collapse.
He characterized the current state of the PDP as a “lost cause,” suggesting that those remaining in the party may inadvertently be aiding the ruling All Progressives Africans, APC.
“The fate of the PDP for 2027 has been decided by these legal entanglements.
“No one serious about winning will remain there, except those who wish to serve as ‘APC by proxy.’ To defeat the ruling party, we must consolidate. The ADC is the only credible platform left for a genuine third force,” he said.
Directing his appeal to the Turaki-led faction and grassroots supporters, Okai emphasized the importance of the upcoming direct primaries. He urged them to register en masse with the ADC to build a formidable opposition structure.
“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 added.