ADC leadership crisis has escalated sharply as three rival blocs within the African Democratic Congress continue to lay claim to the party’s control, deepening internal divisions ahead of the 2027 general elections amid ongoing constitutional and legal disputes.
The African Democratic Congress has been engulfed in a prolonged internal power struggle that has split the party into competing factions.
The dispute, which began as a leadership transition disagreement, has evolved into a full political and legal standoff involving party structures, court orders, and competing interpretations of the party constitution. The situation has raised concerns about the party’s organisational stability and its ability to function as a unified opposition platform ahead of the next general elections.
The ADC leadership crisis is currently driven by three principal blocs aligned with David Mark, Nafiu Gombe, and Dumebi Kachikwu, each claiming legitimacy over the party structure. Each faction has accused the others of procedural violations, including allegations of illegal conventions, unconstitutional leadership claims, and disregard for internal party rules.
One faction maintains that its leadership emerged through duly ratified National Executive Committee decisions, while another disputes the legality of those processes, insisting that constitutional membership requirements were not met. A third bloc has rejected the entire leadership arrangement, describing it as invalid and inconsistent with the party’s constitution.
The ADC leadership crisis has also been intensified by court intervention, including orders directing parties to maintain the status quo pending judicial determination of leadership disputes. The court order has effectively frozen key party activities, including congresses and conventions, further deepening uncertainty over recognised leadership structures.
Internal communications and public statements from the factions indicate continued disagreement over eligibility rules, succession processes, and the legality of recent party decisions. The Independent National Electoral Commission has also been drawn into the dispute, complicating recognition of any single leadership structure pending final judicial clarity.
The ADC leadership crisis presents significant implications for internal party cohesion and opposition politics in Nigeria.
Prolonged factional disputes risk weakening the party’s organisational capacity, limiting its ability to field unified candidates and coordinate electoral strategy ahead of 2027. The legal and political standoff also highlights broader challenges of party governance, constitutional compliance, and dispute resolution within Nigeria’s multiparty system.
