The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has been thrown into a fresh internal crisis following disagreement between the party’s national leadership and its state chairmen over the conduct of congresses.
The trouble started after the National Secretary of the party, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, issued a notice announcing plans to hold congresses across the country. The notice, which was circulated to party members and officials, outlined steps toward reorganising the party structure at different levels.
However, shortly after the notice became public, several ADC state chairmen released a disclaimer rejecting the congress notice. The state chairmen said they were acting under the directive of the party’s National Chairman, Mr David Mark, and insisted that the notice issued by the National Secretary did not have the approval of the appropriate party organs.
In the disclaimer, the state chairmen distanced themselves from the planned congresses and warned party members not to participate in any exercise that was not properly authorised. They described the notice as irregular and capable of causing confusion within the party.
The development has deepened an already tense situation within the ADC, with party insiders saying the disagreement reflects a wider power struggle over control of the party’s structure ahead of future elections.
Although details of the disagreement remain unclear, sources within the party said the core issue is about authority and procedure. While the National Secretary is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the party, the state chairmen argue that major decisions such as congresses must follow due process and receive full approval from the party’s national leadership.
Rauf Aregbesola, a former governor of Osun State and former minister, joined the ADC after leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC). His entry into the party raised expectations of a possible rebuilding and repositioning of the ADC ahead of future political contests. However, the current dispute suggests that internal unity remains a challenge.
The ADC, like many opposition parties in Nigeria, has struggled in recent years with internal divisions, leadership disputes and weak grassroots organisation. Political observers say such crises often weaken parties and reduce their chances of presenting a strong alternative to the ruling party.
Some party members fear that if the crisis is not quickly resolved, it could lead to court cases, parallel congresses and further divisions at the state level. Similar situations in other parties have in the past resulted in long legal battles that distracted from campaigning and policy development.
So far, neither Aregbesola nor the national leadership has issued a detailed public response to the disclaimer by the state chairmen. Efforts to reconcile the different positions are said to be ongoing behind the scenes, but no official meeting has been announced.
For now, the disagreement over the congress notice has exposed cracks within the ADC leadership. As party members wait for clarity, the crisis continues to generate concern among supporters who had hoped for a more united front.