Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The African Democratic Congress in Rivers State has been hit by its most significant defection yet, as its 2023 governorship candidate, Dr Tonte Ibraye, formally resigned from the party, citing a prolonged leadership crisis and unresolved legal disputes that he said have rendered the party's internal structures illegitimate ahead of the 2027 general elections. Ibraye announced his resignation in a letter dated September 24, 2026, addressed to the ADC Ward Chairman of Degema Ward 16 in Bille, Rivers State. The resignation took immediate effect.
Ibraye said he had remained committed to the ADC and its principles of internal democracy, fairness and respect for legitimate party structures, but recent developments within the party had made his continued membership untenable. He expressed particular concern over the leadership dispute involving the faction led by former Senate President David Mark, which he said had continued to exercise authority over party structures and electoral processes while related legal matters remained unresolved. "The continued attempt by a disputed leadership to determine ADC candidates for the 2027 elections raises questions about the legitimacy and stability of such candidatures," Ibraye said.
The former governorship candidate described political tickets emerging from what he considered contested processes as being "on quicksand rather than solid ground." He argued that the credibility of any political organisation depended largely on the strength and legitimacy of its internal structures. "No political movement can build a credible future while its internal foundation remains subject to fundamental legal and organisational disputes," he stated. He also criticised what he described as attempts by some newly admitted members to displace duly constituted party executives across the country, a development he said had deepened the crisis and raised fundamental questions about the party's future.
Ibraye's resignation comes as the ADC positions itself as a major platform for opposition politicians seeking an alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 elections. The party has attracted prominent figures in recent months, including David Mark, a former Senate President, as its national chairman. The realignment, however, has been accompanied by disagreements over party leadership, structures and control of the electoral machinery. In May 2026, the ADC suffered a mass defection of lawmakers in the National Assembly to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, with legislators from Kano, Anambra, Lagos, Edo and Rivers states among those who left. Mark held an emergency meeting with former lawmakers after the defections, underscoring the internal turmoil that has continued to plague the party.
Beyond the ADC's internal crisis, Ibraye faulted the broader opposition's political strategy, saying it had focused disproportionately on replacing President Bola Tinubu without sufficiently presenting Nigerians with a clear roadmap on how it intended to govern differently and improve the lives of citizens. "Opposition politics should extend beyond the objective of defeating an incumbent and should be anchored on a clear programme capable of addressing the country's economic and social challenges," he said. He added, "I have decided that I can no longer remain on what I consider a sinking political ship".
Ibraye said he would now begin consultations with his supporters, political associates and political leaders across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State to determine his next political direction. He expressed appreciation to members and supporters of the ADC with whom he had worked, describing his decision as one taken after careful consideration of the developments within the party. He stressed that leaving the ADC would not diminish his commitment to Rivers State and Nigeria, or his advocacy for accountable, transparent and people-centred leadership.
The resignation is the latest blow to a party that has struggled to present a united front despite its ambitions of becoming a coalition vehicle for opposition forces. With Ibraye's exit, questions will intensify about the ADC's ability to manage its internal contradictions and present a credible alternative in 2027. For Ibraye, the decision marks the end of a relationship with a party he once hoped would be a vehicle for change. For the ADC, it is a stark reminder that building a coalition is easier than holding one together.
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