A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Usman Austin Okai, has cautioned that the ongoing legal uncertainty within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) poses a major risk for politicians with ambitions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Naija News reports that Okai made the remark following the Court of Appeal ruling on March 9, 2026, which upheld a Federal High Court injunction restraining the recognition of the PDP’s controversial Ibadan convention.
In a statement he signed and released on Monday, Okai said the Court of Appeal’s decision affirming the injunction against the Ibadan convention indicates the likely direction the Supreme Court may take on the matter.
He called on members of the PDP Governors’ Forum who are still in the party, including Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, as well as the Turaki-led faction, to consider joining the ADC before the commencement of the upcoming ward congresses.
Okai argued that the ADC presents a viable political alternative and is strategically positioned to accommodate politicians who may be displaced by what he described as the PDP’s internal collapse.
He also described the current condition of the PDP as a “lost cause,” warning that those who remain in the party could end up indirectly strengthening the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said, “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.
“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.
“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.”