Published by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A faction of the African Democratic Congress has announced plans to convene a national convention and appoint interim leadership to steer the party through a deepening crisis that has exposed serious divisions within one of Nigeria’s most talked‑about opposition platforms. The move, publicly unveiled in early April, reflects efforts by party insiders loyal to Dumebi Kachikwu to assert organizational control as ongoing legal and administrative disputes continue to unfold.
The announcement by the Kachikwu‑aligned group comes against the backdrop of a widely reported leadership struggle within the ADC that has drawn in prominent political actors and regulatory intervention from the Independent National Electoral Commission. Kachikwu’s faction has described the planned national convention as a necessary step to restore order, clarity, and direction for the party’s future, and to implement interim structures to oversee affairs while contested leadership questions remain unresolved.
At the centre of the dispute are competing claims to leadership after protracted negotiations in 2025 that saw several well‑known politicians align with the ADC as part of a broader opposition effort targeting the 2027 elections. Former Senate President David Mark emerged as national chairman at a mid‑2025 National Executive Committee meeting that produced a new leadership slate, a development that sparked immediate contestation from Nafiu Bala, who challenged the process and asserted his own claim to authority within the party.
The situation has since evolved into parallel claims of authority, with rival camps each asserting legitimacy over the party’s national leadership. The Independent National Electoral Commission has taken the unusual step of derecognising all leadership factions within the ADC and refraining from engaging with any internal structures until a substantive court ruling clarifies the situation. The commission based its position on conflicting correspondence from rival claimants and a directive from the Court of Appeal to maintain the status quo pending litigation, effectively pausing official party activities and heightening uncertainty about the ADC’s functional capacity.
Kachikwu’s group has formally rejected assertions by Nafiu Bala that he holds any significant leadership post under constitutionally recognised structures, emphasising that he has never served as deputy national chairman under legitimately constituted bodies. The faction has also distanced itself from a rival coalition involving former governors and other high‑profile political figures it accuses of attempting a power grab that undermines longstanding party members and values.
His announcement goes beyond rhetoric, proposing that delegates from across Nigeria participate in a convention that will elect credible leaders and install an interim leadership committee to manage party affairs while internal legal disputes are resolved. The interim body, the faction says, is meant to serve as a stabilising mechanism that ensures continuity and prevents further institutional breakdown within the ADC.
The move has ignited mixed reactions within the party. Supporters of Kachikwu’s faction have welcomed the announcement, describing it as a necessary step toward rebuilding the party and preventing it from disintegrating. They argue that a convention remains the most legitimate mechanism for resolving leadership disputes in a democratic setting and restoring confidence among grassroots members ahead of a crucial electoral cycle.
However, rival factions have expressed scepticism about the plan, questioning both its timing and legitimacy in light of ongoing court cases. Some party members have warned that unilateral actions could further complicate the legal situation and potentially lead to additional regulatory sanctions if procedures are not aligned with existing legal frameworks.
The leadership crisis has also triggered activism among the party’s youth wing, which issued an ultimatum to the electoral commission demanding the restoration of recognised leadership or face organised peaceful civic action across Nigeria. Youth leaders accused the commission of undermining democratic processes by interpreting court directives in ways that leave the party in limbo at a critical time.
The national publicity secretary for the ADC has publicly criticised the electoral authority’s stance, warning that the refusal to accept correspondence from the party and the derecognition of its structures ahead of preparations for the 2027 elections could hinder the party’s ability to participate effectively. Party officials have described the situation as part of broader pressures facing opposition forces, arguing that barriers to internal organisation amount to obstacles that could weaken opposition viability.
The leadership dispute traces back to mid‑2025 when former national chairman Ralph Nwosu announced his resignation and backed a new leadership marquee headed by David Mark. Bala, who had been deputy national chairman, rejected the process as procedurally flawed and launched legal action at the Federal High Court, challenging the legitimacy of the new leadership. Subsequent appeals and counter‑filings have created a complex legal and political standoff that remains unresolved.
While some state chairmen have rejected the electoral commission’s interpretation of court rulings and affirmed their own leadership legitimacy at state levels, others have embraced the push for a convention as a path to clarity. These differing responses underscore deep fractures within the party’s ranks and the challenge of reconciling competing loyalties.
Beyond internal organisational disputes, the ADC has taken steps to internationalise its concerns about Nigeria’s democratic environment, appointing envoys to engage foreign governments and international institutions. This initiative is aimed at drawing attention to what leaders describe as undemocratic pressures and institutional hurdles facing opposition parties in the country ahead of major elections.
Political commentators say the crisis highlights the precarious nature of party politics in Nigeria’s evolving electoral landscape, where legal challenges, regulatory decisions, and internal rivalries intersect. The ADC’s emergence as a potential opposition platform capable of hosting heavyweight political figures initially generated optimism about its prospects, but the initial surge into national relevance has since been overshadowed by leadership turmoil.
Whether the planned convention and interim leadership proposal will serve as a unifying mechanism or further entrench divisions depends on responses from rival party leaders, legal authorities, and regulatory bodies. With the 2027 election cycle approaching, how and when the disputes are settled could influence not just the ADC’s viability but the broader dynamics of opposition politics in Nigeria.
As the ADC moves toward what its faction calls a legitimising convention, attention will remain on how different factions navigate the legal and organisational complexities. The coming weeks are likely to be pivotal, determining whether the party can reassert internal coherence or risk further fragmentation.
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