Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Abuja, Nigeria — The internal crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has intensified as a powerful bloc of state party chairmen formally rejected rival leadership claims associated with former Senate President David Mark and factional national chairman Nafiu Bala. On April 7, 2026, the state chairmen announced an interim leadership team to manage the party’s affairs, deepening divisions within the ADC just months ahead of the 2027 general elections.
At a press conference in Abuja, the State Chairmen Forum, led by Don Norman Obinna of the ADC’s Abia State chapter, declared that they no longer recognise the factions led by Mark or Bala. Obinna said the two groups had “hijacked” the party and acted outside the constitutional provisions, asserting that neither represented the legitimate organisational leadership of the ADC.
The state chairmen cited the Independent National Electoral Commission’s decision to derecognise both factions as a turning point. INEC’s move followed a March ruling by the Court of Appeal that annulled external recognition of the internal leadership disputes, leaving the party without an officially recognised national executive. The chairmen welcomed this decision, describing it as corrective and necessary to restore internal democracy and block unilateral maneuvers to seize party control.
The interim national executive committee unveiled by the state chairmen includes Ogga Temitope Kingsley from Kogi State as acting national chairman, Odion Kennedy of Edo as secretary, Muhammad Jidda as deputy chairman, Kabiru Hussaini as assistant secretary, Charles Omidji as national organising secretary, Johnny Derek as deputy organising secretary, Stella Chukwuma as treasurer, and Obinna as publicity secretary. The committee is tasked with managing party affairs and preparing for a national convention to elect a permanent leadership.
The crisis traces back to July 2025, when tensions erupted over leadership succession after the resignation of long-time party chairman Ralph Nwosu. A coalition event saw Mark installed as interim national chairman alongside Rauf Aregbesola as national secretary, prompting legal challenges and deepening internal resistance. Bala has since denied endorsing the event’s outcomes, insisting that the process violated party rules and was unconstitutional.
The state chairmen have distanced themselves from both factions, affirming the legitimacy of their oversight and backing Dumebi Kachikwu, the ADC’s 2023 presidential candidate. This position aligns with Kachikwu’s faction, which has announced plans to convene a national convention to resolve the leadership stalemate.
Reactions to the announcement are mixed. While some view the interim leadership as an effort to restore order, others warn that public disunity and competing claims could weaken the party’s competitiveness in the 2027 elections. Analysts say that without a universally recognised leadership, the ADC may struggle with mobilisation, candidate selection, and alliance formation.
The ADC’s crisis reflects broader challenges in Nigerian political parties, where leadership disputes often intersect with legal challenges, internal rivalries, and recognition by state institutions. Observers note that resolving the disputes and holding a legitimate national convention is critical for the party to remain relevant in the upcoming elections.
For now, attention is focused on how the interim leadership will navigate competing claims and organise the national convention, with the party’s future cohesion and electoral prospects hanging in the balance.
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