Leaked Memo Reveals Rift Between Obidient Movement and ADC Leaders

Tensions are mounting within the opposition coalition led by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) following the emergence of a leaked memo from the Obidient Movement, which accuses coalition leaders of marginalising its members in key decision-making processes.

The memo, dated July 29, 2025, and signed by the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Dr. Tanko Yunusa, was addressed to Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi. In it, the movement expresses deep dissatisfaction with its current status within the ADC coalition, despite what it described as its “pivotal role” in the bloc’s formation and momentum.

The ADC coalition was formally unveiled on July 2, 2025, as a broad-based political alliance designed to challenge the administration of President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections. Present at the launch were prominent political figures, including interim national chairman David Mark, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and ex-SGF Babachir Lawal.

While Obi attended the unveiling, he has yet to officially defect from the Labour Party to the ADC. Interim national publicity secretary Bolaji Abdullahi previously stated that both Obi and El-Rufai had been granted waivers to remain in their legacy parties while continuing to support the coalition.

In the leaked correspondence, Dr. Yunusa accused the ADC coalition leadership of systematically excluding Obidient Movement members from critical meetings and leadership roles. “Our people are deliberately excluded at all levels,” the memo reads. “While we remain committed to the shared vision of building a united and formidable front for the task ahead, we must raise the following issues that our members have repeatedly flagged.”

The memo alleges that none of Obi’s loyalists has been included in high-level discussions or strategic planning sessions, raising concerns about transparency and fairness. “Several of our designated representatives and members are reportedly being excluded from crucial meetings where major decisions affecting the coalition are made,” Yunusa stated. “This creates an impression of marginalisation and undermines trust, which is essential for building a sustainable partnership.”

The Obidient Movement also criticised the coalition’s current structure, calling it unrepresentative of the movement’s grassroots strength and political contribution. The group is demanding at least one working and one non-working committee member from the movement in each of the country’s six geopolitical zones.

“The current structure does not reflect the Obidient Movement’s strength and contribution to this coalition,” the memo stressed. “We believe these measures are crucial to building trust and repositioning the coalition for success. We look forward to you resolving this with the party leadership in the spirit of the new Nigeria we want to build.”

The memo has sparked conversations across political circles, with analysts warning that unresolved internal disputes could pose serious risks to the coalition’s chances in 2027. Some stakeholders fear the divisions may widen if steps are not taken quickly to address the concerns of the Obidient Movement, which played a major role in mobilising young voters during the last general election.

As of press time, neither Peter Obi nor ADC leadership had publicly responded to the memo.