Labour Party, Obidient Movement Join ADC in Lagos as Coalition Strengthens Ahead of 2027

On September 13, 2025, a significant political development emerged in Lagos State as members of the Labour Party and the Obidient Movement formally merged with the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The merger was declared at a high-profile meeting convened by the Conscience Forum and further affirmed during a mobilisation tour in Badagry, Lagos.

Receiving the new entrants was ADC National Secretary, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who emphasized the ADC’s commitment to a people-centred, inclusive ideology. In response to misconceptions that the ADC lacks a clear ideological direction, Aregbesola clarified the party’s constitution explicitly safeguards against the undue influence of elites and political godfathers. The ADC constitution mandates broad representation and inclusivity—women must hold a minimum of 35% of all elective and appointive positions, and youth representation is constitutionally guaranteed alongside women to constitute no less than 50% of leadership roles. These pioneering provisions are unprecedented in Nigerian politics since independence.

Moshood Salvador, the 2023 Labour Party senatorial candidate for Lagos West, led the decision of his group, Conscience Forum, with over 400,000 members across Lagos State, to migrate their full structure into the ADC. Salvador cited the Labour Party’s uncertain future and highlighted ADC’s promise as a new coalition offering better prospects for political progress. The move received unanimous endorsement from the forum’s state executives.

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At the event, prominent political figures, including Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, former Lagos Labour Party gubernatorial candidate, and Obidient Movement representatives, endorsed the merger, underscoring the coalition’s inclusive nature and its strategic positioning ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

Aregbesola called on all Nigerians to rally behind the ADC, describing the current government as “anti-people” and urging the nation to embrace a party prioritizing governance that genuinely serves the people’s welfare. He affirmed that the ADC is not just a political party but a vehicle for transformative leadership aiming to secure a better future for Nigeria’s children and subsequent generations.

This merger marks a critical step in consolidating opposition efforts in Lagos, signaling the ADC’s emergence as a formidable political force built on clear ideological values and grassroots support