A faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) aligned with its 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, has unveiled plans to organise a national convention and install an interim leadership structure to steer the party through its ongoing internal crisis.
The announcement was made Tuesday in Abuja by the group’s spokesperson, Norman Obinna, following what he described as an emergency meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).
Obinna said the meeting brought together state chairmen and other NEC members to address unresolved leadership disputes that have lingered within the party.
According to him, earlier reconciliation efforts through an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process had produced an agreement to convene a national convention to elect new leaders. However, he noted that the decision has not been implemented nearly two years after it was reached.
He accused the former leadership under Ralph Nwosu of attempting to hand over control of the party to individuals who were not registered members, while also sidelining state executives.
The faction disclosed that it has already filed two separate cases in court challenging what it described as unlawful actions by the previous leadership, even before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) weighed in on the matter.
Obinna further argued that, in the absence of a functioning National Working Committee (NWC) since August 2022, the NEC remains the highest legitimate decision-making body within the party.
As part of its resolutions, the group announced a break from a rival coalition involving prominent political figures, insisting that any decisions taken by that bloc do not reflect the position of the ADC.
The faction also dismissed claims by Nafiu Bala Gombe to any leadership role within the party, maintaining that he has never held the office of deputy national chairman.
Reaffirming its position, the group described Kachikwu as a legitimate and committed member of the party and accused opposing actors of attempting to seize control for elite interests.
It also urged foreign missions in Nigeria to disregard the rival coalition as representatives of the ADC.
To stabilise the party, the faction confirmed the appointment of an interim leadership tasked with overseeing daily operations until a new NWC is elected at the proposed convention. It called on INEC to formally recognise the interim arrangement to prevent further deterioration within the party.
The leadership dispute has been compounded by ongoing legal battles. In September 2025, Gombe approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, contesting the legitimacy of a leadership structure linked to David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola. He argued that he should have taken over leadership following Nwosu’s resignation and alleged that the resignation letter was falsified.
The situation escalated further on April 1, when INEC removed the names of Mark and Aregbesola from its official portal, citing a court directive to maintain the status quo.
The ADC, which was adopted as a coalition platform in July 2025, has drawn support from several high-profile politicians and is positioning itself as a challenger in the 2027 general elections.
