.Backs INEC on delisting
.Dissociates ADC from Mark, Aregbesola, Abdullahi, others
.Alleges attempt to hijack the party by non-members and Nafiu Gombe
By Caleb Ishaya, Abuja
A new faction of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, yesterday emerged and has declares itself the authentic National Executive Committee, NEC, of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, as the leadership crisis in the party keeps spiralling.
Spokesperson of the faction, Norman Obinna who claimed to be the Abia State chapter chairman of the ADC , at a media briefing yesterday in Abuja said they are on a rescue mission following “an emergency NEC meeting of the party’.
The members of the group comprising of 30 states chairmen of the party were present at the press briefing in Abuja, according to Obinna represent the legitimate National Executive Committee of the ADC in the wake of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, withdrawal of the Senator David Mark leadership and non-recognition of Nafiu Bala Gombe.
He said the NEC is stepping in to manage the ADC’s affairs ahead of its next national convention as preparations for the 2027 general elections gathers momentum.
AljazirahNigeria reports that the ADC Coalition top political figures also includes: ex-governors Rotimi Amaechi, Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, and Rabiu Kwankwaso who joined last week among others
While giving rationale for their action the spokesman of the group recalled that the tenure of former ADC National Chairman and founder, Dr. Ralph Nwosu expired in August 2022, and that his continued hold on the party gave rise to series of litigations.
In this vein, he said that “The tenure of Chief Ralph Nwosu, who handed the party to the David Mark group, had ended in August 2022, and afterwards, he faced a series of litigations due to his failure to step down and allow a due process convention.
Besides, “Nwosu’s refusal to step down as chairman led to a series of litigations with Justice Nyako ruling in December of 2022 that Nwosu’s tenure had indeed expired and that any action taken by him and his NWC after the expiration were null and void.
“One of the illegal actions taken by Nwosu was the convening of a mini- convention in Zaria in October of 2022 where he reappointed himself and the likes of Nafiu Gombe as the NWC of the party, but INEC firmly rejected the convention.
“This matter subsequently went all the way to the Supreme Court when the group now known and referred to as the David Mark led coalition transacted with Ralph Nwosu.
“Prior to this unholy transaction, INEC received several communications from the NEC of the party from August of 2022 but curiously refused to act even on valid court orders.
“Nwosu pronounced the suspension and in some cases the expulsion of state chairmen of the party who opposed his bid to continue as chairman of the party.
INEC eventually initiated an alternative dispute resolution mechanism to resolve the issues within the ADC.
“The key outcome of the ADR which was signed by both parties was that the ADC would immediately go into a convention to produce a new leadership.
“This has not been done almost two years after but instead he attempted to illegally transfer leadership of the party to people who were not members of the ADC.
“The David Mark-led leadership put in place measures to remove all the state chairmen of the party for the simple reason that they did not fit the calibre of chairmen who could represent the elite.
“We had filed two court cases challenging the illegality of their actions prior to INEC’s recent position of delisting them.
“In the absence of the National Working Committee since August 2022, the NEC being a constitutional, valid and subsisting organ of the party remains the only authority to speak on behalf of the ADC”.
The group further stated that “Arising from an emergency NEC meeting held today the 7th of April, 2026, NEC therefore resolved and stated the following:
“We dissociate the ADC from David Mark, Rauf Aregesola, Bolaji Abdullahi, Prof Osunbor and all members of the so-called coalition who attempted to hijack our party and state that all actions taken by them in the name of the ADC are not binding on the ADC.
“We dissociate the ADC from the claims of Nafiu Gombe and firmly and unequivocally state that he has never held the position of deputy chairman of the ADC.
“The ADC remains a party of and for all Nigerians and not just for former political office holders and the elites. The ADC is also not for sale.
The people who have called themselves the Coalition have no democratic credentials and are only interested in a power grab as evidenced by the way and manner in which they attempted to hijack our party and throw out the original members.
“We affirm that our former presidential candidate, Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu, is a committed and bona fide member of our party whose purported expulsion by the David Mark-led group was an act of desperation taken too far.
“We put on notice all the embassies and high commissions in Nigeria that the David Mark-led coalition are not members of the ADC and don’t speak for the ADC.
The following members of the ADC have been appointed to manage the day-to-day affairs of our party pending the election of a new NWC in our soon to be conducted convention. We wish them success and urge INEC to accord them the necessary recognition and support in order to save the African Democratic Congress from total collapse.
ADC members appointed to manage affairs of the party pending election of a new National Working Committee:
Chairman- Ogga Temitope Kingsley (Kogi State); Secretary – Odion O kennedy (Edo State); Deputy Chairman- Muhammad Khala Jidda (Borno State); Assistant Secretary- Kabiru Hussaini (Jigawa); National Organizing Secretary- Dr. Charles Idowu Omidji (Osun State); Deputy Organizing- Johnny Tovi Derek (Bayelsa); Treasurer- Stella Chukwuma (Enugu State); Publicity Secretary- Don Norman Obinna (Abia)
