LAGOS — The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is now engulfed in one of its worst leadership crises in recent years, with three rival factions locked in a bitter struggle for control of the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The crisis has split the party into camps loyal to former Senate President David Mark, Nafiu Gombe, and former presidential candidate Dumebi Kachikwu, alongside his ally Kingsley Temitope Ogga. Each side is accusing the others of illegitimacy, power grab, and disregard for party rules.
Supporters of the Mark-led leadership are pointing fingers at the presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging external influence in the ongoing crisis. They claim the Gombe and Kachikwu camps are acting in a way that indirectly supports President Bola Tinubu’s political interests.
“How can someone who participated in all the meetings suddenly turn around and disown the process? It is obvious some people are working for the APC,” a source from the Mark camp said.
But Nafiu Gombe has rejected that claim, insisting he never resigned as deputy national chairman and maintains that he is the rightful acting chairman following the exit of Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu.
On the other hand, the APC and presidency have dismissed allegations of interference, saying the ADC should take responsibility for its internal failures instead of blaming outsiders.
The crisis worsened after a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered all parties to maintain the status quo pending the resolution of leadership-related cases. Despite this, a factional convention allegedly went ahead, further deepening the divisions within the party.
Kachikwu condemned the move, describing it as reckless and dangerous for democracy, warning that such actions could destabilise the political space.
“They are saying if they can’t control it, nobody should. That is not democracy,” he said.
The Mark camp, however, insists its leadership structure followed due process and was properly ratified by party organs, arguing that internal decisions were made in line with the ADC constitution.
In contrast, the Gombe faction insists that the entire process is illegal, arguing that key eligibility rules were ignored and that no proper constitutional procedure was followed in transferring leadership authority.
Adding to the confusion, the Kachikwu-led bloc has rejected both camps, describing them as products of unconstitutional arrangements and accusing them of hijacking the party structure for personal and political gain.
Political observers say the ADC is now effectively operating as three separate parties, each claiming legitimacy while rejecting the others.
With court cases ongoing and no clear resolution in sight, analysts warn that the crisis could weaken the party’s chances of presenting a united front in the 2027 elections.
As it stands, the battle for the soul of the ADC is far from over, and attention is now shifting to the courts, where key rulings are expected to shape the party’s future direction.
