Former LP Campaign DG Osuntokun Quits Party Confirms Move To ADC

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A former Director-General of the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Council, Akin Osuntokun, has officially resigned from the party and declared his allegiance to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Osuntokun, a former Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria, confirmed his defection while speaking to journalists in Lagos, attributing his decision to persistent internal crises and what he described as deliberate sabotage within the Labour Party.

Explaining his move, Osuntokun accused those currently in charge of the party of betraying its founding principles and undermining Nigeria’s democratic development.

“You should understand that those controlling the Labour Party today are merely internal saboteurs,” he told Vanguard.

He further alleged that the party leadership had abandoned genuine political ideals in favour of transactional politics.

“They are more interested in selling the party to the highest bidder, which should not appeal to anyone genuinely committed to nation-building,” he said.

Osuntokun disclosed that his decision was also influenced by the earlier departure of his political associates, particularly the group aligned with the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

“The team I joined the Labour Party with has already exited. The Peter Obi group has left, and that effectively settled the matter for me,” he explained.

He added that the party was now being deployed for purposes contrary to national interest.

“People are using it for objectives that do not serve the good of the country,” he said.

The former LP chieftain also cited the lingering leadership crisis within the party as a major factor behind his resignation, especially the recent court ruling that recognised Senator Nenadi Usman as the legitimate national chairman and invalidated the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee.

According to him, the situation remains uncertain, as the Abure faction has vowed to challenge the judgment.

“They have announced plans to appeal, and given the unpredictability of last-minute court decisions, the atmosphere remains unstable,” he noted.

Describing the ADC as the most credible opposition platform currently available, Osuntokun said his move was motivated by the urgent need to prevent Nigeria from drifting into a one-party state.

“One of my key reasons for joining the ADC is to contribute to strengthening it, because a one-party system is dangerous for Nigeria’s democracy,” he said.

He added, “At the moment, the ADC has the greatest potential. It is fast emerging as a formidable opposition platform.”

“If anyone is genuinely interested in resisting a one-party dictatorship and safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic future, this is the only viable platform,” he stressed.

Osuntokun also revealed that although he had already decided to join the ADC, former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, helped accelerate the process.

He described his return to the ADC as a homecoming, noting that he was among the pioneers who helped establish the party.

“I was part of it from the very beginning. In fact, my involvement predates my time in the Labour Party,” he said.

He further explained that the ADC originated from the Coalition for Nigerian Movement, which was spearheaded by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Reports indicate that several prominent opposition figures have recently adopted the ADC as their political platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Among them are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, former Senate President David Mark, and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

The increasing wave of defections is widely seen as part of strategic efforts to build a formidable opposition coalition capable of mounting a serious challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.

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