Fresh crisis has hit the African Democratic Congress, ADC, after a faction of the party led by Dumebi Kachikwu dissolved the National Working Committee headed by former Senate President, David Mark, and elected a new set of national officers to run the party for the next four years.
The development took place during a special convention organised by the faction in Abuja on Sunday, further exposing the growing internal division within the opposition party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
During the convention, members of the faction unanimously approved the dissolution of the David Mark-led National Working Committee through a voice vote.
The motion for the dissolution was moved by the Benue State Chairman of the ADC, Allias Adiku, and seconded by the Zamfara State Chairman of the party, Kabiru Garuba.
Delegates at the convention later endorsed the election of a fresh National Working Committee to take over the administration and affairs of the party.
The convention also ratified the adoption of the party’s 2018 constitution, as amended, as the official framework guiding the activities and internal administration of the ADC.
At the end of the exercise, Abdulkadir Bashir emerged as the new National Chairman of the party faction.
Other officials elected included Johnny Derek as Deputy National Chairman and Kennedy Odion as National Secretary.
The convention also produced Kingsley Ogah as Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
In his acceptance speech, Bashir called for unity among party members and urged leaders to embrace fairness, transparency and inclusive leadership in rebuilding the ADC.
The new chairman, who is from Katsina State, promised to provide responsible leadership and strengthen internal democracy within the party.
According to him, politics should be based on service to the people rather than personal interests.
“A good leader must be transparent, just, tolerant and loyal because politics is ultimately about representing and serving the interests of citizens responsibly,” Bashir said.
He also traced his political history, stating that he became actively involved in politics in 1999 and once contested as a vice-presidential candidate under the United Democratic Party before joining the ADC.
Bashir said he played a major role in building the ADC structure in Katsina State and expanding the party’s influence across the North-West geopolitical zone.
“I contributed significantly to building the ADC structure in Katsina State and strengthening the party’s presence across the North-West geo-political zone,” he stated.
The chairman blamed the crisis within the ADC on selfish interests and attempts by some former leaders to maintain permanent control over the party structure.
According to him, political parties should not be treated as personal property.
“This is a political party, not a private enterprise. Every political organisation must operate according to established rules, regulations and democratic principles,” he said.
He claimed that some party members who challenged injustice and resisted attempts to dominate the party structure faced opposition and intimidation.
However, Bashir said the group eventually reclaimed the party through lawful and democratic processes.
“By the grace of God, we fought through lawful processes and reclaimed the party structure for members committed to democratic accountability and responsible leadership,” he added.
The latest development is expected to deepen the leadership crisis already affecting the ADC.
The party has witnessed internal disputes in recent years over leadership control, party structure and alliances with opposition groups ahead of future elections.
In recent months, the ADC has attracted attention following reports that some opposition politicians and political groups were considering the party as a possible coalition platform against the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Bashir acknowledged this during his speech, saying some opposition coalition groups approached the ADC because of its national spread and political strength.
According to him, despite its internal crisis, the ADC remains one of Nigeria’s strongest political parties capable of challenging the ruling party.
The ADC was founded in 2005 and has participated in several elections at national and state levels.
Although the party has not won the presidency, it has maintained presence in different parts of the country and has often been viewed as one of the smaller opposition parties seeking broader national relevance.
The party gained increased public attention during the 2023 elections after Senator Ireti Kingibe won the Federal Capital Territory senatorial seat on the platform of the ADC.
The victory was seen as a major breakthrough for the party, especially in Abuja where the contest attracted national attention.
However, the ADC has struggled with internal disagreements and leadership battles in different states since the elections.
Bashir, however, commended members for remaining loyal despite the party’s internal challenges.
He praised the ADC’s performance during the 2023 elections, saying the party performed well despite internal disputes that weakened its operations in some states.
The chairman urged members to remain united and committed to rebuilding the party.
He also appealed to aggrieved members to forgive past differences and return to the party for the collective interest of Nigeria’s democracy.
According to him, unity and cooperation remain necessary if the ADC hopes to become a stronger opposition force capable of influencing national politics.
“Let us unite and continue the good work already started for the success of the ADC, Nigeria and the collective progress of our people,” Bashir said.
They also warn that prolonged internal crisis could weaken the party ahead of the 2027 elections, especially at a time opposition groups are searching for strong platforms to challenge the ruling APC.
For now, it remains unclear how the David Mark-led leadership will respond to the latest action taken by the Kachikwu faction.