A member of the House of Representatives, Leke Abejide, has accused leading political figures of allegedly taking over the African Democratic Congress, insisting that the party’s current leadership crisis stems from what he described as a failure of internal consultation and due process.
He made the remarks on Thursday during a live interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he criticised the emergence of a faction reportedly aligned with former Senate President David Mark.
During the interview, Abejide said those he described as “hijackers” included former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, among others.
“If you want to come to a party, and it is not a fresh one, you should know that some people are there. Why don’t you meet with them first and discuss?” he said.
Abejide further stated, also said , that he had no prior engagement with key political actors linked to the broader coalition, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi.
“No, I have never met with them. None of them has ever met me,” he said.
Abejide rejected suggestions that internal disputes had led to his marginalisation or that he had compromised party interests.
“I am not a sellout. It is not because they didn’t consult me; let us do things according to the law. This party cannot be destroyed,” he said.
He argued on the same broadcast that the emergence of the current leadership structure violated the constitution of the ADC, insisting that due procedures were ignored.
According to Abejide, those who assumed leadership positions had not met basic membership requirements at the time they took control of the party.
“As at the time they sat on their seats, they had not registered in their wards.
”They were not members of the ADC as at the time they took over,” he said.
He added that proper procedure should have included formal registration steps and notification to the electoral body.
“What they ought to have done is to allow them to come in, then write to Independent National Electoral Commission, give 21 days’ notice for a national convention, and amend the constitution properly…
”By then, nobody can go to court,” he said.
The leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress has continued to escalate, with multiple factions laying claim to control of the party structure amid ongoing legal disputes and electoral uncertainty.
The crisis intensified after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declined to recognise the David Mark-led executive, citing a Court of Appeal decision that maintained the status quo pending resolution of the dispute.
The party is now split into competing groups, each claiming legitimacy, with court cases further complicating its internal stability ahead of future elections.
Tensions escalated in Abuja following a protest tagged “Occupy INEC,” where political figures including David Mark, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rotimi Amaechi demanded recognition of their faction at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
In a separate demonstration at the INEC headquarters in Abuja, another group led by Nafiu Gombe also called for recognition of a different leadership structure, further highlighting the deep divisions within the party.
With parallel leadership claims, court battles, and public protests ongoing, the ADC remains embroiled in one of its most severe internal crises in recent years.
