Lockdown in Benin: Oyegun Bars Owie from ADC Meeting as Leadership Crisis Rocks the “Third Force”
BENIN CITY — The fragile unity of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Edo State has fractured as two political titans, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Senator Roland Owie, clashed openly over the control of the party’s machinery.
The confrontation reached a boiling point on Monday, February 23, 2026, when Chief Oyegun, the former National Chairman of the APC and now a central figure in the ADC, reportedly locked out Senator Roland Owie and his supporters from a critical caucus meeting held at Oyegun’s GRA residence in Benin City.
The incident marks a major setback for the ADC, which has been positioning itself as the primary vehicle for the Atiku-Obi-El-Rufai opposition merger ahead of the 2027 general elections.
National Chairman Senator David Mark has reportedly been briefed on the Edo situation. Party insiders expect a reconciliation committee to be dispatched to Benin by the weekend to prevent a formal split that could see Senator Owie—a veteran of multiple political “harlotries”—take his formidable League of Democrats elsewhere.
The Battle for Supremacy
The dispute centers on who holds the legitimate authority to convene caucus meetings and lead the party’s “League of Democrats” wing in the state. The Oyegun Position: Chief Oyegun, who chairs the ADC’s National Policy and Manifesto Committee, maintains that as the highest-ranking national leader in the state, he directs the party’s strategic direction. The Owie Claim: Senator Roland Owie, the pioneer Senate Chief Whip and a foundational member of the ADC coalition, was only recently (January 2026) lauded by party chieftains as the “leader of the party in Edo South.” Owie and his loyalists view the lockout as an “undemocratic attempt” to sideline the grassroots base he brought into the party.
“Agents of Disunity”
The fallout has triggered a war of words between the two camps. Supporters of Senator Owie have labeled the lockout a “betrayal” of the very inclusive principles the ADC claims to champion. “We came together as a coalition to save Nigeria, not to create new godfathers,” one Owie associate told nuus.ng at the scene. “To bar a foundation leader from a meeting is to play into the hands of the ruling APC.”
Meanwhile, sources close to Chief Oyegun suggest the meeting was a “restricted strategic session” intended for the 50-member manifesto committee and not a general caucus gathering. However, the optics of a former Senate Whip being turned away at the gate has fueled rumors of a deep-seated rift over the 2027 ticket sharing.
The “Third Force” in Jeopardy?
This internal friction comes at a delicate time for the ADC. The Context: The party is currently managing a massive influx of “Obidients” and defectors from the PDP and APC. The Pressure: With the 2027 Presidential Election exactly 362 days away, any cracks in the leadership of Edo State—a traditional “heartbeat” for political realignments—could dampen the national momentum of the Atiku-Obi-El-Rufai alliance.
What’s Next?
National Chairman Senator David Mark has reportedly been briefed on the Edo situation. Party insiders expect a reconciliation committee to be dispatched to Benin by the weekend to prevent a formal split that could see Senator Owie—a veteran of multiple political “harlotries”—take his formidable League of Democrats elsewhere.