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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) held its National Convention on April 14, signalling its determination to forge ahead with preparation for the 2027 contest, against all odds. However, with a plethora of court cases, bordering on the legitimacy of the party’s leadership and grievances by some members, the opposition party appears to be walking a tightrope ahead next year’s contest.
Since its emergence as the coalition party for the 2027 polls, the ADC has left no one in doubt about its intention to give the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) a strong fight in the next general election, scheduled for early next year. At every opportunity, the national chairman, Senator David Mark, has told anyone who cares to listen that it will form the next government at the centre.
The ADC, which was registered prior to the 2007 general election, was a marginal player in the polity for close to 20 years. However, the status of the party changed on July 2, 2025, when it was unveiled as the coalition party by key opposition politicians, especially from the People’s democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP)and some former members of the APC.
The key opposition politicians whose defection to the ADC energised the party include former Vice President Atiku Abubakr, former Anambra governor, Peter Obi, former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, and former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, among others. Recently, former Kano governor and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential candidate in the 2023 polls, Rabiu Kwankwaso declared for the ADC.
Mark, while speaking, at one of the ADC functions had said “Our mission is not only to attain power in 2027; it is to leave a legacy which the future generations will be proud to inherit. We are in a marathon, we must complete-and win. Failure is not an option, he said, adding that “We have set aside narrow interests for the common good. The road will be uphill. Sacrifice will be demanded. Those threatened by democracy will resist it. Still, we advance-calmly, courageously, together as a formidable team.”
The optimism of the ADC leaders was understandable. Amid lingering leadership crisis in PDP and LP, the ADC was already becoming the beautiful bride for opposition politicians, as well as aggrieved members of the APC, in the run-up to 2027.
ADC’s many troubles
However, the ride is becoming very bumpy for the ADC. On April 1, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) withdrew the recognition of the Mark- led NWC, and delisted the ADC leadership from its portal, citing a Court of Appeal order, directing parties in a suit on the leadership of the opposition party to maintain status quo ante bellum as reason for their action.. The electoral umpire premised its action on the suit filed by Nafiu Bala, a former deputy national chairman of the opposition party.
Gombe, who has been laying claim to the leadership of the ADC, following the resignation of the founding national chairman, Chief Okey Nwosu, had filed a suit challenging the emergence of the Mark- led National Working Committee (NWC). Nwosu and members of his NWC had resigned to pave way for new leadership, after the ADC was adopted as the coalition party, last July.
The Court had adjourned the case to await the outcome of an appeal by the Mark- led NWC.Based on the March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which ordered the parties to return to the trial court and maintain status quo ante bellum pending the determination of the suit, hearing in the dispute resumed on April 14, nothing appears to be happening.
Apart from the suit by Gombe, there are no fewer than four other litigations pending before different courts. These include a suit by a member of the House of Representatives from Kogi State, Leke Abejide, challenging the emergence of Mark- led NWC, two suits by forum of state chairmen on the emergence of the acting leadership of the party and another on the state congresses, as well as a suit by Mark NWC challenging the decision of INEC to delist the ADC national executive from its portal. The Supreme Court has fixed April 22 to hear Mark’s appeal.
While the Mark leadership called the bluff of INEC and proceeded with its congresses and national convention, a group of state chairmen on April 7 announced the Chairman of its Kogi State chapter, Kingsley Ogga as acting national chairman and expressed support for the decision of INEC.
According to them “In the absence of the NWC of 2022, the NEC remains the only authority to speak on behalf of the ADC. Arising from an emergency NEC meeting held today (April 7, 2026), the NEC, therefore resolved and stated as follows: ‘we dissociate the ADC from David Mark and all members of the so-called coalition who attempted to hijack our party. We state that all actions taken by them, in the name of the ADC are not binding on the ADC.”
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According to them, “ADC has no faction. The people seated here today were elected and they are state chairmen. The state chairmen body is the only recognised body and their tenure is still running. This is not a faction. INEC didn’t recognise the two NWC, it didn’t say anything about the NEC. INEC’s pronouncement didn’t affect the party’s NEC. In a vacuum, the NEC of the party takes over the party pending a new convention. We’ve been meeting and there’s no way you can conduct the NEC of the party without state chairmen.”
Gombe, accompanied by Leke Abejide, a member of the House of Representatives from Kogi State, also staged a protest at the INEC headquarters in Abuja, last week, demanding to be recognised by the commission as the authentic leader of the ADC.
For the ADC, it is a case of one party, three chairmen. While convention organised by the Mark- led NWC, expelled Gombe, Abejide, Ogga and four others, for alleged anti party activities, Gombe and Abejide at a press briefing, last weekend dismissed their expulsion as laughable noting that the convention was allegedly held in breach of the order of a Federal High Court Abuja.
The Kogi lawmaker stated that “My so-called suspension and that of Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe is contempt of (the) Orders of both Court of Appeal and Federal High Court and as such I have briefed my lawyers on possible litigation against their purported suspension for record purpose, which is a visitation of hostility on me while my case is in Court.”
Similarly, Dumebi Kachikwu, who is sympathetic to the Ogga camp, told journalists, in Abuja, last week, that the April 14 convention is a nullity, stating “the real ADC is preparing for her convention and is doing so within the ambit of the law.”
ADC’s rocky path to 2027 polls
Presently, all eyes are on the Supreme Court to give its verdict on the appeal by the Mark led NWC. Pundits say while the verdict of the Supreme Court may give some form of clarity on the leadership question in the opposition party, it may not bring an end to the party’s troubles. This is as the other suits before lowers may eventually get to the Supreme Court for determination. And it is not unlikely that more suits might not be filed in the tussle for the control of the opposition party.
What does the current state of affairs portend for the ADC? The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdulahi, in a recent statement, said the objective of the electoral body, is to allegedly block the opposition party from participating in the 2027 polls. Abdullahi, explained that the decision of INEC not to receive communication from the ADC will hamper its preparation for the next general election.
According to him, “in simple terms, INEC is effectively threatening that unless the courts deliver judgment on the ADC leadership issue by May 10, it will prevent the ADC from producing candidates. This places the ADC in an impossible position and creates a clear pathway to artificial non-compliance, which can then be used to justify excluding the party from fielding candidates. That is the landmine.”
While there are expectations that the Supreme Court will decide the appeal before it, ahead of the May 10 INEC deadline for political parties to submit their digital register preparatory to the primaries for the 2027 polls, the ADC still has emerging cracks in the state chapters to contend with.
While the influx of politicians into the ADC has strengthened the opposition party at the state levels, it has also come with its own headaches, as various interests battle for the control of state chapters, resulting in interest groups holding parallel state congresses in some of the states. In Ebonyi, Enugu Adamawa, Edo and some other states, party chieftains are already at daggers drawn over the control of party machineries. For instance, the state congresses in Ebonyi and Enugu were factionalised.
Recently a faction of the party in Adamawa State announced the suspension of Atiku and former Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal. However, the Mark- led NWC has dismissed the suspension as a nullity. Also, last week, a faction of the party in Edo State said they have also “suspended” former Edo State governor, John Odigie Oyegun and other leaders of the party in the state.
Abdullahi, while reacting to the development in some of the state chapters, especially the conduct of parallel congresses, assured that the issues will be resolved. Nonetheless, analysts say these incipient crises in state chapters, depending on how they are resolved, will have a lot of implications for the ADC, especially when it comes to the nomination of candidates for the 2027 polls.
There is no doubt that the ADC currently enjoys some level of public sympathy. However, its success in the 2027 polls will depend largely on how it is able to navigate the legal landmines and resolve its issues and give every member a sense of belonging.
