Oyegun slips, briefly calls ADC ‘APC’ at Abuja convention

A moment of confusion interrupted proceedings at the African Democratic Congress (ADC) national convention in Abuja on Tuesday when former APC national chairman John Odigie-Oyegun mistakenly referenced his former party while addressing delegates.

Shortly after stepping onto the podium, Oyegun began to refer to the platform as “APC” before quickly correcting himself to “ADC.” He paused and acknowledged the error, asking aloud whether he had just mentioned the wrong party.

The slip drew immediate reactions from the hall, with delegates responding in laughter as the incident unfolded in real time.

Former Kogi senator Dino Melaye interjected jokingly, suggesting Oyegun needed “refuge from the devil,” a remark that further lightened the atmosphere.

Responding with humour, Oyegun said he would need what he described as a strong “purgative” to remove lingering associations with his former political platform.

A video of the moment circulated widely online within hours, attracting close to 100,000 views across social media platforms.

Oyegun, who led the All Progressives Congress between 2014 and 2018 and joined the ADC in 2025, has since taken up roles within the party, including contributing to its manifesto development process. He has emerged as one of the party’s prominent figures since his defection.

Earlier in his address, he reiterated confidence in the ADC’s direction ahead of the 2027 general election, saying the party was preparing to unseat the current administration led by Bola Tinubu.

He described Nigeria as a country with significant potential, while arguing that leadership choices had hindered progress. He also told delegates the party was prepared for a competitive political contest, insisting it aimed to take control of the presidency after the next election cycle.