A deepening leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has cast uncertainty over its planned national convention, as divisions widen across several state chapters and key details about the event remain unclear.
Supporters of the faction loyal to David Mark have expressed concern over the party’s preparedness, particularly as the venue for the convention scheduled to hold in Abuja on Tuesday has yet to be disclosed.
Tensions have also heightened over safety concerns, with questions being raised about the security arrangements for what is expected to be a large gathering of party members and delegates.
The lack of clarity from the party’s leadership has further fuelled doubts, even as internal disagreements intensify in multiple states.
Despite the uncertainty, a senior party official insisted that preparations were ongoing and that nothing would prevent the convention from holding as scheduled. The source noted that the event would proceed based on plans already communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), although specific details, including delegate figures, would be announced in due course.
The party had recently constituted a 22-member National Convention Central Coordination Committee, chaired by former Cross River State governor, Liyel Imoke, alongside 339 members spread across 11 sub-committees to oversee the process. However, concerns persist following a warning from INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, who cautioned against proceeding with any activity that could violate a subsisting court order.
Amupitan referenced a directive from the Appeal Court mandating both factions within the party to maintain the status quo pending the resolution of the leadership dispute. He warned that proceeding with the convention could render ongoing legal proceedings ineffective, drawing parallels with past electoral disputes, where court rulings overturned election outcomes after victories had been declared.
Meanwhile, Transcorp Hilton Abuja denied allegations that it cancelled a booking made by the ADC for the convention.
Acting General Manager, Mohammed Saiid Khalil, described the claim as false and reiterated that the hotel remains open to hosting organisations that meet its booking requirements.
The crisis has manifested in several states through parallel congresses and factional leadership struggles. In Edo and Enugu states, three different chairmen emerged from separate congresses, reflecting deep divisions within the party. In Edo, factions loyal to Kennedy Odion, Deacon Nosa Ehima, and Tony Alile all produced rival leaderships, while a similar scenario unfolded in Enugu with Stella Chukwuma, Prof. Austin Akubue, and Chris Eze emerging as chairpersons from competing factions.
Kaduna State also witnessed a split, with one faction postponing its congress while another aligned with Nasir El-Rufai proceeded with the exercise, insisting that any postponement lacked constitutional backing.
In Ondo State, rival factions clashed over compliance with INEC’s directive, with one group halting activities while another went ahead to elect former PDP chieftain Tola Alabere as chairman.
In contrast, Delta State recorded a relatively smooth process, as party leaders adopted a consensus approach to harmonise interests among coalition partners. Similarly, the Imo chapter re-elected its chairman, while Rivers State confirmed readiness to conclude its congress.
Elsewhere, a High Court in Adamawa ordered the suspension of all ADC congresses in the state pending the determination of a suit filed by the state chairman, with a hearing scheduled for April 15.
In Ogun State, parallel congresses were also held, with a faction aligned to David Mark producing Femi Soluade as chairman and dismissing the outcome of a rival gathering as unconstitutional.
Amid the crisis, the party has intensified consultations with other opposition groups, including the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), in a bid to build a stronger coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections. Party insiders described the meeting as part of broader efforts to unify opposition forces and strengthen political positioning despite the ongoing internal turmoil.
