• 03 Jul, 2025
• Faith Kegh
• No comment

ADC Leadership Takeover Sparks Internal Crisis.

The recent announcement of former Senate President David Mark and ex-Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as interim leaders of the

African Democratic Congress (ADC) has caused significant unrest within the party. Several state chairmen and party executives have rejected the move, claiming it violates the party’s constitution and lacks proper authorization.

  Controversial Leadership Shift

The announcement was made during an event in Abuja attended by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and other political figures. Chief Ralph Nwosu, whose tenure as ADC national chairman expired in 2022, reportedly handed over leadership to Mark and Aregbesola, with Bolaji Abdullahi named interim publicity secretary.

However, ADC’s 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, and four state chairmen  Etimbuk Umoh (Akwa Ibom), Alaku William (Nasarawa), Adikwu Elias (Benue), and Mohammed Kalla (Borno) strongly opposed the move, declaring it unconstitutional.

  Kachikwu’s Rebuttal

Kachikwu criticized the takeover, stating that any arrangement involving Nwosu is invalid since his leadership ended in August 2022 and remains contested in court. He dismissed the coalition’s attempt to “hijack” the party and questioned the legitimacy of appointing outsiders to key leadership positions.

“Can you build something on nothing?” Kachikwu asked rhetorically. “These men represent a failed chapter in Nigeria’s past and cannot claim to be the future.”

He accused the defectors of treating political parties as commodities and argued they were attempting to use ADC for selfish political ambition ahead of the 2027 elections.

  Party Constitution Ignored

Kachikwu emphasized that, under ADC’s rules, individuals must be members for at least two years before being eligible to hold leadership roles. He urged anyone interested in joining the party to do so through proper channels and warned that the takeover was bound to fail.

“We are a party of values, not a platform for opportunists,” he said.

He also suggested that legal action is being considered to challenge the legitimacy of the coalition’s leadership claims.

  Discontent Among Party Leaders

ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Musa Isa Matara, also condemned the leadership announcement, describing it as an illegitimate power grab that bypassed party procedures and ignored internal democracy.

Matara stressed that any alliance or merger must follow the party’s legal framework and reflect the consent of its members. He warned against “elite-driven” takeovers that undermine the will of grassroots members.

He also noted that unresolved court cases from the 2023 elections further complicate any attempts to repurpose ADC as a new political platform.

  Ongoing Legal Disputes

Kachikwu and other party leaders revealed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) previously acknowledged the expiration of Nwosu’s tenure but failed to formally respond to repeated requests for a special convention to elect a new leadership.

They alleged that Nwosu exploited alternative dispute resolution processes to misrepresent the consent of state chairmen and use their signatures to validate a backdoor takeover of the party.

  Next Steps for ADC

The state chairmen are now pushing for a special convention to install a new national executive committee, in line with party rules. Kachikwu confirmed that discussions with INEC are ongoing to finalize arrangements.

“This party is not for sale,” he declared. “Those seeking shortcuts into leadership will be disappointed.”

  Conclusion

The ADC’s internal crisis continues to unfold, with deep divisions over the recent leadership changes and growing calls for due process and adherence to the party’s constitution. Both legal and political battles are expected to follow in the coming weeks as the party navigates its path toward the 2027 elections.

Faith Kegh

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