A faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Tuesday threw its weight behind the decisions of the Professor Joash Amupitan-led Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which delisted Senator David Mark’s leadership of the party.
The party, which insisted that Ralph Nwosu’s ADC leadership elapsed August 2022, categorically restated its support to the electoral body, commending its bravery in doing what is right.
“He attempted to illegally transfer leadership of the party to people who were not members of the ADC. He put measures in place to remove all the state chairmen simply because they did not fit the mould of leadership representing elite interests,” the group’s spokesman, Norman Obinna said.
The party, also in a signed text made available to newsmen after the meeting. affirmed former presidential candidate of the party, Mr Dumebi Kachikwu as a committed and bonfire member of the party.
They dissociated the ADC from Senator David Mark, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Mallam Bolaji Abdulahi, Professor Monday Osunbor and all members of the coalition who, according to them, attempted to hijack the party, saying all actions taken by them in the name of the ADC are not binding.
The party’s position was coming after an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Abuja.
Lately, power struggle within the party has caused a serious setback just as fresh twists that emanated a few days ago indicated that the growing pressure over the legality of the current structure following INEC’s actions, has placed the party at the crossroads.
Earlier, in a statement, the spokesman for the Mark’s faction, Abdullahi, had faulted INEC for overstepping its constitutional mandate, insisting that no court order barred it from proceeding with its scheduled programmes.
…Faction cautions against meddlesomeness
But at the just concluded NEC meeting attended by twenty-five (25) state chairmen, the Dumebi group cautioned Nigerians against jumping into the party’s matter with emotions devoid of reasoning or understanding.
“The key outcome of the ADR, which was signed by both parties, was that the ADC would inevitably go into a convention to produce a new leadership. This has not been done for almost two years after,” Obinna said.
The group disclosed that it has instituted two court cases challenging the legality of those actions, even before the recent position taken by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Citing what it described as the absence of a National Working Committee since August 2022, the faction maintained that the NEC remains the highest legitimate authority within the party.
Obinna outlined several resolutions reached at the meeting, including a formal disassociation from a rival coalition led by prominent political figures.
“We dissociate the ADC from David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, Bolaji Abdullahi and all members of the so-called coalition. All actions taken by them in the name of the ADC are not binding on the party,” he said.
“We disassociate the ADC from the claims of Nafiu Gombe and firmly and unequivocally state that he has never held the position of deputy chairman of ADC.
“We affirm that our presidential candidate, Mr Dumebi Kachikwu, is a committed and bonafide member of our party whose purported expulsion by the David Mark- led group was an act of desperation taken too far,” they added.
In addition, the group issued a notice to diplomatic missions in Nigeria, urging them not to recognise the rival coalition as representatives of the ADC.
…Names interim team
As part of its resolutions, the faction announced the appointment of an interim leadership to oversee the day-to-day administration of the party pending the election of a new National Working Committee at the proposed convention.
Obinna noted further that the party had resolved to appoint the Kogi state chairman, Mr Ogga Temitope Kingsley as the interim chairman elected by the NEC to manage the day-to-day affairs of the party pending the election of a new NWC in the soon-to-be conducted convention.
Other NEC members include Odion Kennedy (Edo) state, who will serve as the secretary, Muhammad Jidda (Borno state), deputy chairman, Kabiŕ Hussaini (Jigawa) Asst secretary, Dr Charles Idowu, (Osun state), national organising secretary, John Derek (Bayelsa), deputy organising secretary, Stella Chukwuma (Enugu), treasurer, and Samuel Gyang from Plateau state as the financial secretary.
“We urge INEC to accord them the necessary recognition and support in order to save the ADC from total collapse,” Obinna said.
In September 2025, Gombe sued at the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging the legality of the NWC led by Mark and Aregbesola, claiming he should have assumed leadership after Nwosu resigned and alleging his resignation letter was forged. (Additional report from Channels Television)
