The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has intensified following a Federal High Court judgment nullifying the emergence of former Senate President, David Mark, as the party’s National Chairman, with his supporters maintaining control of party structures in several states.
A report by The PUNCH indicates that despite the November 5, 2026, judgment, the Mark-led faction remains firmly in control of several state chapters, while the rival faction led by Nafiu Bala Gombe is making moves to take over some structures.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, nullified the emergence of Mark as National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary.
The court also invalidated decisions taken under their leadership, including the party’s presidential primary that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its candidate for the 2027 general election.
However, the Mark-led leadership has appealed the judgment and filed an application for a stay of execution, insisting that its leadership remains legitimate pending the determination of the appeal.
Findings across several states showed that the Mark-led faction retained control of party structures in Benue, Delta, Nasarawa, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Ogun, Oyo, Adamawa, Borno and Kano, among others.
In Benue State, the faction dismissed reports of internal divisions, with its leaders maintaining that earlier disagreements had been resolved.
The state chapter also reaffirmed its support for Mark, while its former interim chairman, Tsegu Tsegba, disclosed that he had become the party’s senatorial candidate for the North-West senatorial district.
Similarly, the Nasarawa State chairman, Paul Magaji, urged members to remain calm, expressing confidence that the legal dispute would eventually be resolved.
In Kano, the state chairman, Musa Ungogo, said the chapter had joined other northern state chairmen in rejecting the judgment, describing it as an attempt to destabilise the opposition party.
He disclosed that the chairmen planned to converge on Abuja to protest the ruling and explore further legal options.
In Osun, the state publicity secretary, Oluwaseun Abosede, attributed the faction’s continued influence to the political strength of former governor Rauf Aregbesola.
Meanwhile, the Gombe-led faction appears to be making progress in Zamfara and Abia states.
In Zamfara, its chairman, Kabiru Gusau, announced that he had assumed office as the substantive state chairman following the court judgment.
Similarly, the Abia chairman of the faction, Don Obinna, insisted that the ruling had restored his group’s authority over the state chapter.
The situation in Jigawa State remains complicated, with three different groups claiming control of the party’s structure.
The groups are loyal to Mark, Gombe and former presidential candidate Dumebi Kachikwu, respectively.
In Sokoto, however, the Gombe faction said it had no intention of physically taking over the secretariat occupied by the Mark-led group.
The development has also raised questions about the participation of ADC candidates in the 2027 general elections.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said the party would participate in the elections but warned that candidates produced under the Mark-led leadership could be excluded from the ballot depending on the final court decision.
Meanwhile, both factions continue to maintain their positions as the Independent National Electoral Commission awaits further developments in the legal dispute.
The outcome of the pending appeal is expected to have significant implications for the party’s leadership, state structures and preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Leave a comment