From Politics to the Pitch: ADC’s Andyson Obani Climbs to NPFL Referee Assessor Rank!

_Ex-ADC Imo Chairman Earns Top Refereeing Honour After Years of Dual Service in Football and Politics_ 

In a landmark achievement that bridges the worlds of politics and professional football, Hon. Engr. Andyson Obani, the charismatic former Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Imo State, has been officially promoted to the prestigious rank of Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Referee Assessor.

The seasoned football technocrat, who once graced Nigeria’s top flight as a Class A referee for over a decade before his retirement in 2018, completed the rigorous promotion course organized recently by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in collaboration with the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) at the iconic Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

Obani’s elevation from the Nigeria National League (NNL) Assessor cadre—where he has consistently evaluated match officials for the past five seasons—was described as both “merit-based and long overdue.” According to insiders, his exceptional track record and deep-rooted knowledge of the game made his candidacy impossible to overlook.

But beyond the football field, Andyson Obani is no stranger to leadership and transformation. A firm Pan-Africanist and political strategist, his foray into politics began in 2015 when he joined the then-underperforming African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Imo State. Within three years, he not only energized the party’s grassroots structures but also collapsed the formidable Owerri-Okigwe Zones Great Alliance (OZGA) into ADC, significantly reshaping the party's political fortunes ahead of the 2019 elections.

His tactical ingenuity saw ADC record six gubernatorial aspirants in 2019—an unprecedented feat for the party in the state. Obani also contested for the Ezinihitte State Assembly seat with commendable results, earning him the recognition of the party’s national leadership led by Chief Ralphs Okey Nwosu.

Following a high-impact leadership transformation course at the ADC Global Campus Abuja under the mentorship of High Chief Anayo Arinze (Eko Awka), Obani was appointed as Imo ADC State Chairman. Since then, he has supervised several strategic congresses across Abia, Rivers, Cross River, and Imo States, and now serves as State Vice Chairman (SVC) Imo East (Owerri Zone).

Speaking shortly after the announcement of his promotion, Obani remarked:

> "This honour is not just for me—it is for the countless unsung heroes who balance community service with professional excellence. Football has always been my first love, but leadership in all its forms remains my lifelong mission."

With this latest promotion, Hon. Engr. Andyson Obani cements his legacy as one of Nigeria’s rare breed of leaders who have left indelible marks in both the political and sporting arenas.

As the 2025/26 NPFL season approaches, all eyes will be on Obani—not just as a referee assessor—but as a symbol of excellence, passion, and dual-purpose service to nation-building.