The rapidly unfolding political momentum surrounding the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the defection of former presidential candidate Mr. Peter Obi has taken a new and dramatic turn, as youths in Enugu State and across Nigeria raised the alarm over alleged moves to hijack the ADC structure in Enugu State.
According to the youth group, Credible information available to them points to an alleged move by powerful interests to secretly lobby the National leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to impose a deliberately weak and pliable candidate in Enugu State, one who can be easily compromised and defeated during elections AND WITH A PROMISE OF SUPPORTING MR PETER OBI IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.This alleged plot is aimed at neutralising the rising influence of the Obi-led movement in the state and returning Enugu to the era of recycled leadership and political subservience. They warned that Nigerian youths are fully alert and will not tolerate any attempt to undermine merit, transparency, and the will of the people through backdoor arrangements designed to sabotage a movement built on hope, competence, and genuine democratic renewal.
This development comes against the backdrop of what political observers have described as one of the most consequential opposition realignments in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. What began as Peter Obi’s defection to the ADC has since evolved into a broader political awakening, reshaping national conversations around power, resistance, youth participation, and the future of democratic engagement in Nigeria.
Peter Obi’s decision to pitch his tent with the ADC was immediately framed by supporters as a symbolic and strategic “crossover” not merely from one political party to another, but from political resignation to renewed alertness among Nigerians, particularly the youth. At a time when the political space appeared dominated by a single ruling force and opposition parties weakened by internal crises and elite defections, Obi’s move was widely seen as a disruption of an otherwise predictable political trajectory.
The announcement, made in Enugu, carried deep symbolism. Regarded as the political and cultural mother state of the South East, Enugu was deliberately chosen by Obi as the starting point of what supporters now describe as his second missionary political journey. However, the moment was not without controversy, as reports emerged of an alleged attempt to disrupt Obi’s press conference at the Nike Lake Hotel, with road construction equipment reportedly deployed around the venue, causing obstruction and public inconvenience.
Despite widespread condemnation of the incident, the press conference held successfully, a development supporters say further strengthened the narrative of resilience around Obi and the ADC. To many within the Obidient movement, the failed disruption symbolised a movement that had already outgrown administrative and political obstacles.
ADC witnessed a surge in political interest and defections, most notably the entry of Senator Gilbert Nnaji, Princess Adaku Ogbu (Ada Ogbu), However, as enthusiasm around the ADC continued to grow, youth leaders in Enugu State began to raise concerns. In a strongly worded statement issued on behalf of Enugu youths, by Comrade Kingsley Ejiofor Ekeuramah, President of Concern Enugu State Youths (CESY), a coalition of all youth organisations in Enugu State, warned of alleged moves by “some agents of the state” to hijack the ADC structure in Enugu State.
According to their press statement, such moves are allegedly aimed at weakening the growing wave of hope inspired by Peter Obi’s defection and stealing the renewed joy of millions of Nigerian youths who now see the ADC as a credible platform for national rebirth.
Comrade Ekeuramah stressed that the current momentum around the ADC and Peter Obi does not belong to any individual, government, or political elite, but is a people-driven movement forged through years of sacrifice, frustration, and collective yearning for a better Nigeria. He described the moment as one of belief restored, dignity reclaimed, and renewed faith in a future defined by competence, integrity, and service.
The youths recalled past experiences where promising political platforms were allegedly infiltrated, compromised, and rendered ineffective through elite capture, imposition of loyalists, and the misuse of state power. They warned that such a pattern must not be repeated, insisting that any attempt to plant agents, lobby stakeholders behind closed doors, or bend the ADC structure to serve narrow interests would be resisted through peaceful, lawful, and democratic means.
“This is not a threat,” the statement emphasised, “but a declaration of civic responsibility by a generation whose destinies are directly at stake.”
The youths further called on political leaders, particularly in Enugu State and the wider South East, to respect the will of the people and allow the ADC to grow organically, rather than seeking to control or manipulate its structure. They warned that the joy currently spreading among Nigerian youths following Peter Obi’s decision is fragile yet powerful, and must not be extinguished by political manoeuvring.
Joining voices with the wider Obidient movement nationwide, the youths issued a firm warning against any attempt to disrupt, derail, or hijack what they described as a people-driven political awakening. They insisted that the ADC’s emerging structure must be protected from manipulation by entrenched political interests, as it represents the collective hope of millions whose futures are tied to meaningful political change.
Particular attention was drawn to the South East, with a clear warning that any governor or power bloc attempting to lobby their way into planting loyalists within the ADC, in a manner similar to what is alleged to have happened in the PDP and the Labour Party, would be strongly opposed. Such actions, the youths said, would amount to a betrayal of the region’s collective aspiration and an assault on the democratic rebirth symbolised by Peter Obi.
The statement concluded with a call for calm, unity, and discipline among youths, stressing that their strength lies in numbers, organisation, and unwavering commitment to a better Nigeria. They reaffirmed that their resistance would remain peaceful, constitutional, and people-powered, declaring that with their destinies at stake, the ADC must not be hijacked.
As political realignments continue to reshape Nigeria’s opposition landscape, the warning from Enugu youths underscores a growing reality: the Obi-ADC movement is no longer just a political moment, but a generational cause, fiercely guarded by a youth population determined not to let history repeat itself.
