By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Chucks, Delta
A coalition of seven political parties with over 5,000 members across the 25 local government areas of Delta State has joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after defecting from their respective platforms.
The defectors moved from the All Progressives Congress (APC), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Action Democratic Party (AD), Labour Party (LP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Mr Fortune Oyadonghan, former leader of Delta G-25, a political group within the PDP, read the list of defectors during a general meeting of coalition stakeholders held on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at the PTI Conference Centre, Effurun.
Receiving the defectors, Senator David Mark, National Chairman of ADC, represented by Elder Festus Igbinoba, National Chief Whip of the party, apologised on behalf of other national leaders who could not attend the ceremony due to their engagement in Anambra State, where the party is fielding a gubernatorial candidate.
He clarified that the ADC is not a newly registered political party but has existed since 2006, appreciating leaders and members who have kept the party vibrant until this moment when a “tsunami” of politicians from other platforms joined.
According to him, the ADC is now the political party to beat in Nigeria. He said the immediate focus would be on reconciliation, sensitisation, mobilisation and an aggressive membership drive.
Elder Igbinoba expressed satisfaction with the number of defectors and, on behalf of the National Chairman and the National Working Committee, formally welcomed them into the ADC.
In a vote of thanks, Hon (Arch) Julius Akpovoka, convener of the meeting and leader of the coalition stakeholders, expressed appreciation to the party’s national leadership for granting them full membership.
He assured that the new members would be loyal to the party’s leadership at all levels and uphold its constitution.
“I thank you that we are now full members of ADC,” he said enthusiastically, speaking on behalf of the defectors.
The mass defection is seen by observers as a significant boost to the ADC’s political strength in Delta State and potentially at the national level ahead of the 2027 general elections.