By Ayodele Oni

National Leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has expressed disappointment over the inability of the police to arrest gunmen who attacked the party Secretariat and his residence in Benin on Tuesday.

The Gunmen also shot at the convoy of another chieftain of ADC, Peter Obi.

Odigie-Oyegun, also a former Edo governor, stated this on Friday, when fielding questions after the party’s South South Zonal Leadership Committee meeting in Benin.

He said the security agencies gave them a hint of the attack, which saved them.

“I am not sure if an arrest has been made. I am also not sure if an arrest will be made, considering the nature of the event.

“Imagine people bearing arms in broad daylight and being seen, and no one has been arrested up till now,” he said.

He urged the government to allow peace to reign and eschew violence in the run-up to the election.

“The ADC will do what it takes to make the party the choice of Nigerians,” he noted

Odigie-Oyegun also urged leaders and party members in the zone to work in unity and learn from each other’s experience, so that the zone could be worthy of emulation.

Meanwhile, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that a former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amechi, announced his presidential bid at the meeting.

By Ayodele Oni

The South-South Zonal Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mabel Oboh, has clarified that there was no time leaders of the zone endorsed former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, for 2027 presidency.

Reports have claimed that one of the national leaders in the zone, former Governor John Odigie-Oyegun, and others endorsed Amaechi on Friday when the former Transport Minister visited Edo to inform leaders of his intentions to contest the 2027 presidential election under the party.

The Zonal Publicity Secretary, described the reports as “misleading, undemocratic, and a troubling example of how selective narratives can distort political reality.”

It was gathered that the February 27 meeting, was held at Oyegun’s residence, with respected party elders, senior stakeholders, and state representatives from Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, and Rivers States.

According to Oboh, the meeting was organised to strengthen internal cohesion, deepen grassroots mobilisation, and position the party strategically for future electoral contests.

She said: “These were not casual attendees, they were seasoned political leaders, individuals with decades of experience in governance, party administration, and democratic practice.

“To suggest that such a body would casually abandon constitutional process for an informal endorsement is both inaccurate and illogical.”

Ms Oboh described Amaechi’s move to formally informed regional leaders of his intention to seek the party’s presidential ticket as respectful consultation with his geopolitical zone.

“Consultation is not endorsement, and courtesy is not coronation,” adding receiving a prominent son of the South-South who chose to formally brief his regional leaders cannot be twisted into a declaration of support.

Oboh emphasised that at no time, before, during, or after the meeting, was any motion moved, resolution adopted, vote taken, or consensus reached to endorse any aspirant.

She further stressed that Chief Oyegun’s political history makes the allegation particularly implausible.

As a former national chairman of a ruling political party and a longstanding advocate of constitutional order within party systems, Oyegun, she said, understands the weight of process and institutional discipline.

“It is inconceivable that a leader of his pedigree would undermine the very democratic structures he has spent decades strengthening.

“Misinformation in political reporting does not merely mislead the public; it risks undermining democratic processes, fueling unnecessary tension within parties, and eroding confidence in institutional procedures.”

She maintained that the ADC remains committed to internal democracy, noting that the power to nominate and elect candidates rests with constitutionally recognised organs of the party and ultimately with its members, not with a handful of leaders at a zonal consultation.

Reaffirming the unity of the South-South bloc, Oboh stated that the meeting’s true objective was structural consolidation and party growth, not premature political alignment.

“The elders of the South-South remain united, disciplined, and committed to due process. No endorsement took place. Any narrative suggesting otherwise is false and should be disregarded.”

The South-south Zone of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has said it would back former Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi for the Presidential ticket of the Party.

This was disclosed by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, but now a chieftain of the ADC, during a meeting of the stakeholders held at  his home in Benin, Edo State, during which he said Amaechi has formally briefed them of his intentions.

At the meeting, Odigie-Oyegun announced  Amaechi’s endorsement by the ADC South-South political leaders for the presidential ticket in the 2027 general elections.

He said: “In the process, we are glad that our son, His Excellency, Chibuike Amaechi, took advantage of this meeting to brief us formally of his intention to run for the presidency of our great nation.”

He commended Amaechi for what he described as respect for regional leadership and political consultation before launching his ambition.

“We were very pleased to thank him for the respect he has for the leaders of the zone; for not letting loose in his zone, setting up his own personal structure, by ensuring, like any good son, that he tells his people what he has in mind before he embarks on it.”

The leaders, he said,  have reached a unanimous decision to support Amaechi’s presidential bid.

“We were pleased, and I can report, that a unanimous decision was taken to give him all the support that he needs in pursuit of his ambition”, he  stated.

He chided the South-South-South Governors for emphasising that they would deliver the Zone to President Bola Tinubu, and described it as insulting to the people who voted them in, but who, they now feel can no longer think or decide for themselves who to vote for or not.

Odigie-Oyegun, also, revealed that they will hold regular meetings with the aim of strengthening collaboration among political stakeholders in the South-South Zone.

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He said: “We are going to meet regularly. This group of leaders are going to meet regularly to interact and to learn from each other’s experience, so that, as usual, the South South zone will become an example to be emulated by other zones in the nation. That reflects basically in this decision”

He, also, hammered on the need for peaceful political activities in the run-up to the 2027 elections, and urged the authorities and stakeholders to promote stability and avoid violence.

He said: “A lot of speakers, of course, emphasized the fact that we hope the government will approach the run-up to the elections and allow peace to reign, allow stability to reign, and eschew violence in the run-up to the elections that will come in 2027.”

Members of the ADC, he agreed, are conscious of the short time they have  before the elections and are committed to their political objectives.

“We are very aware that time is short, and we, as the ADC, are committed”,  he said.