A faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by its 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, has announced plans to convene a national convention and set up an interim leadership structure to steer the affairs of the party.
The development was disclosed on Tuesday in Abuja during a media briefing by the group’s spokesperson, Norman Obinna, following what he described as an emergency meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).
According to him, the meeting brought together state chairmen and key NEC members to address the lingering leadership crisis within the party.
Obinna explained that previous efforts at resolving the dispute through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) had produced an agreement for the party to organise a national convention to elect a new leadership.
However, he noted that nearly two years after the agreement, the process has yet to be implemented.
He accused the former national leadership under Ralph Nwosu of attempting to hand over control of the party to individuals who were not members, while also taking steps to sideline existing state executives.
According to him, such actions undermined internal democracy within the party.
The faction revealed that it has already initiated legal action to challenge the legitimacy of those moves, even before the recent stance taken by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
It also argued that in the absence of a properly constituted National Working Committee since August 2022, the NEC remains the highest decision-making body of the party.
As part of its resolutions, the group formally distanced itself from a rival coalition within the ADC, declaring that individuals such as David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, and Bolaji Abdullahi do not represent the party’s legitimate structure.
It insisted that any actions taken by the coalition in the name of the ADC were not binding.
The faction also dismissed claims by Nafiu Bala Gombe to any leadership position within the party, stating unequivocally that he has never served as deputy national chairman.
Reaffirming its position, the group described the ADC as a platform open to all Nigerians, rejecting what it termed attempts by elite interests to take control of the party.
It further emphasised Kachikwu’s standing as a legitimate and committed member.
In addition, the faction appealed to diplomatic missions in Nigeria not to recognise the rival coalition as representatives of the party, warning that such recognition could deepen the crisis.
To stabilise the party ahead of its proposed convention, the group announced the formation of an interim leadership tasked with overseeing day-to-day operations until a new National Working Committee is elected.
The faction also called on INEC to recognise the interim arrangement, arguing that such support is necessary to prevent the collapse of the party amid its internal disputes.
The leadership crisis within the ADC has been further complicated by ongoing legal battles, including a suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja challenging the legitimacy of the party’s leadership following the resignation of its former chairman.
Despite the internal divisions, the ADC adopted as a coalition platform in 2025 remained focused on positioning itself as a viable opposition force ahead of the 2027 general elections, where it aims to challenge President Bola Tinubu.
