Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The founder and leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has issued a stark prophetic warning to former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, advising him against leaving the African Democratic Congress. In a statement released on Sunday, May 3, 2026, Ayodele declared that Obi’s political ambition would face failure if he abandons the ADC platform, which he joined only months ago as part of a broader opposition coalition. The warning came just hours after Obi publicly confirmed his resignation from the ADC, citing endless court cases, internal battles, suspicion, and deep division within the party. Ayodele’s message was direct and uncompromising. “You will fail if you leave ADC,” the cleric said, urging Obi to reconsider his decision before it is too late. He argued that the ADC remains the most viable platform for opposition forces to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, and that any move away from it would fracture the coalition and weaken the chances of unseating the incumbent.
Primate Ayodele is no stranger to Nigerian political discourse. Over the years, he has gained a reputation for issuing prophecies about elections, governance, and the fate of political leaders. Some of his predictions have generated significant attention, including his warnings about the economic hardships that followed the removal of fuel subsidies and his forecasts about the outcomes of past gubernatorial elections. However, his track record remains a subject of debate, with critics pointing to several unfulfilled prophecies while supporters highlight what they consider accurate foresight. In his latest statement, Ayodele did not mince words. He claimed that divine revelation had shown him that Peter Obi’s political journey would hit a dead end if he walks away from the ADC at this critical juncture. “The ADC is where God has positioned you for the time being. Leaving now is an act of impatience that will cost you dearly,” Ayodele was quoted as saying by his media aide, Oluwatosin Ogunrinde.
The timing of the prophecy is significant. Peter Obi’s resignation from the ADC, which he announced via his X handle on Sunday morning, confirmed weeks of speculation that the former Anambra State governor was preparing to jump ship yet again. In his resignation letter, Obi cited an environment of “endless court cases, internal battles, suspicion, and division” that he said was being orchestrated by state agents to cripple the opposition. He took pains to praise the ADC national chairman, former Senate President David Mark, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as personal mentors, but insisted that the party had become a legal labyrinth that could prevent him from even appearing on the ballot in 2027. Hours after his announcement, reports emerged that Obi and his ally, former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, were finalising plans to join the Nigeria Democratic Congress, a party linked to former Bayelsa State governor Senator Seriake Dickson. A formal declaration is expected as early as Monday, May 4.
Primate Ayodele’s warning appears aimed directly at that planned defection. He argued that the NDC lacks the national structure, grassroots reach, and electoral track record to mount a serious challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress. “You are jumping from one boat to another in the middle of a storm. That is not wisdom. That is desperation,” the cleric said. He advised Obi to return to the ADC and work internally to resolve the party’s crises, rather than abandoning it for yet another unfamiliar platform. Ayodele also cautioned that repeated party switching erodes public trust and gives political opponents ammunition to paint Obi as unstable and power‑hungry. “Nigerians are watching. They want a leader who can endure hardship and stay the course, not someone who runs at the first sign of trouble,” he added.
Reactions to the prophecy have been sharply divided. Supporters of Obi, known as Obidients, largely dismissed Ayodele’s warning as self‑serving or simply inaccurate. Many pointed out that the cleric had previously predicted that Obi would win the 2023 presidential election, which did not happen. “Primate Ayodele has a right to his prophecy, but we have a right to ignore it,” said Michael Nwachukwu, a convenor of the Obidient Movement in Lagos. “Peter Obi left the Labour Party because of similar internal sabotage, and that move gave him over eight million votes in 2023. He knows what he is doing.” Others, however, urged caution. Political analyst Dr. Chidi Odinkalu noted that while prophecies are matters of faith, the underlying strategic concern about party instability is valid. “Obi has now been a member of APGA, PDP, LP, ADC, and soon NDC. At some point, voters start asking whether he can hold anything together,” Odinkalu said in a televised interview.
The ADC itself has not officially responded to Ayodele’s prophecy, but party insiders have expressed relief that the cleric is urging Obi to stay. A senior ADC official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the party would welcome Obi back if he changes his mind, though the official acknowledged that the resignation appears final. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Democratic Congress has remained cautious, with its deputy national publicity secretary, Abdulmumin Ohiare Abdulsalam, confirming that discussions are ongoing but stating that the defection still falls “under the realm of probability rather than certainty.”
Primate Ayodele concluded his warning with an appeal to Obi to prioritise the collective interest over personal ambition. “You are a symbol of hope for millions of young Nigerians. Do not let your impatience destroy that hope. Return to the ADC. Fight for the soul of that party. Cleanse it from within. That is the path to victory,” he said. Whether Obi will heed the warning remains uncertain, but the clock is ticking. With the 2027 election cycle already taking shape, every political move counts. For now, the former presidential candidate appears determined to chart his own course, prophecies and warnings notwithstanding.
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