The leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has taken a dramatic turn, with a group of state chairmen announcing a takeover of the party’s leadership.
The group, which claims to represent 25 states and is backed by the party’s 2023 presidential candidate Dumebi Kachikwu, declared that it now constitutes the legitimate National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.
At a press briefing in Abuja, the faction unveiled Kingsley Ogga as chairman of a newly formed caretaker committee, marking a significant shift in the party’s ongoing internal struggle.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Abia State Chairman Don Norman Obinna said the NEC had endorsed the removal of former Senate President David Mark as party leader, citing the expiration of previous leadership tenures and unresolved legal disputes.
The development follows a recent move by the Independent National Electoral Commission to remove key ADC figures, including Mark and Rauf Aregbesola, from its official records, in compliance with a court directive to maintain the status quo pending final judgment.
However, the Mark-led faction has dismissed the new group, alleging that it is being sponsored by elements within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to destabilise the opposition.
ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi also rejected the legitimacy of the faction, accusing unnamed forces of encouraging dissent among state chairmen to weaken the party.
As part of its restructuring, the new faction announced additional appointments, including Odion Kennedy as acting secretary and Mohammad Jidda as deputy chairman, alongside other state chairmen assigned national roles.
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Crisis deepens as new ADC faction emerges, rejects David Mark-led coalition
With this latest development, the ADC is now split into three major factions: the David Mark-led group, the Nafiu Gombe-led bloc, and the newly declared NEC-backed faction under Kingsley Ogga.
The crisis, which dates back to disputes over the tenure of former chairman Ralph Nwosu, has led to multiple court cases and raised concerns about the party’s stability ahead of the 2027 general elections.
While each faction continues to claim legitimacy, the deepening divisions highlight the growing uncertainty within the party and its future political direction.
