The crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) escalated yesterday as a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Leke Abejide, denounced a coalition group that recently assumed control of the party, describing them as “political marauders” who infiltrated the ADC from other parties.
Abejide, who represents the Yagba Federal Constituency in Kogi State, vowed to resist the takeover and align with what he termed the “original” members of the party to reclaim its structure. He made this declaration while speaking to reporters in Abuja, just a day after Nafiu Bala, a former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC from Gombe State, declared himself the acting national chairman.
The lawmaker dismissed any suggestion that the current leadership reflects the founding vision of the party, warning against what he described as an attempt to hijack the party through undemocratic means. “When I was nursing the party, where were they? They destroyed their parties—PDP and Labour Party—and now they want to destroy ADC,” he said.
He accused the coalition group of bypassing established party structures, stating: “They came into the party through the backdoor, ignoring our democratic processes. Their intent is clear: to suppress original members and use the party platform for their personal political ambitions.”
Abejide also hinted at possible legal action, saying he would not stand by as the most senior member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) while the party is “stolen.” “We will seek legal redress. I may go to court to challenge the illegality of this so-called National Working Committee,” he added.
Reaffirming his loyalty to the founding principles of the ADC, Abejide stressed that the party must not become a refuge for political opportunists. “I am proud to be a true ADC member, and I represent the values upon which this party was built,” he declared.
Meanwhile, former National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Dr. Musa Isa Matara, also criticized the coalition-backed leadership, accusing it of sidelining longstanding members in recent party appointments.
Speaking to *The Nation*, Matara alleged that over 50 appointments were made into the new NEC without consulting or including original ADC members. “This is nothing short of a hijack,” he said. “The coalition team came in and appointed people as they pleased, ignoring those who have worked to build the party.”
Matara further noted that while the former National Executive Committee, led by Chief Ralph Nwosu, had handed over to Chief David Mark in the presence of INEC officials, the actions of the current leadership fall short of the unity they had publicly promised.
“Our expectation based on David Mark’s address was an inclusive process. Unfortunately, what we’re witnessing is the opposite—total exclusion and marginalization,” he said.
In response to the ongoing dispute, Matara announced that the ‘original’ ADC members are now rallying behind Nafiu Bala, who has declared himself the new national chairman. “We are unveiling our faction today, and Nafiu Bala will lead us as the legitimate chairman. We will not allow the coalition team to dismantle our party structure without our consent,” he affirmed.
With the emergence of parallel factions, the ADC now faces a deepening internal divide, casting uncertainty over its cohesion and prospects ahead of future elections.
