ADC crisis: ‘Our party is not for sale’, says Kachikwu
…state chairmen claim vindication …Mark-led group cites consistency with court ruling The 2023 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dumebi Kachikwu, has described a Federal High Court ruling
...state chairmen claim vindication
...Mark-led group cites consistency with court ruling
The 2023 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dumebi Kachikwu, has described a Federal High Court ruling nullifying the party’s recent congresses and convention as a decisive rejection of attempts to take control of the party.
This comes as ADC State chairmen, who recently assumed administrative control of the party following the inauguration of Hon. Temitope Ogah-led Interim National Executive Council, welcomed the ruling as a victory for due process and an affirmation of their authority over party congresses.
However, the David Mark-led faction of the party said its earlier position that the tenure of current state executives remains valid is consistent with the court’s pronouncement, while indicating that it would review the judgment and determine its next steps.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, had on Wednesday voided the congresses and convention conducted by a group led by former Senate President David Mark, citing a lack of legal standing.
Reacting to the ruling, Kachikwu said the decision validated long-held concerns about the legitimacy of the disputed party processes.
“Today, a Federal High Court in Maitama nullified the kangaroo congresses and convention conducted by the David Mark-led group.
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“In her judgement, which could be classified as a stinging rebuke, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that even though this group didn’t have any locus, they proceeded to conduct, in her own words, ‘kangaroo congresses and conventions’, which she proceeded to nullify," he said.
He said the court further clarified the structure of authority within the party, especially on who is empowered to conduct congresses and conventions.
“She also held that with the lacuna within the leadership of the ADC, the state chairmen of the party, who make up the NEC of the party, are the rightful body to conduct a national convention and congresses at the different levels and that INEC should recognise them as such,” he said.
Kachikwu said the ruling reinforced his earlier warnings about the direction of internal disputes within the party, noting, “I had long warned that the African Democratic Congress is not for sale and that these political buccaneers would be shown the way out through the same back door they came in from.
“With this judgement, it has become clear that these desperados who attempted to hijack our party have failed woefully.”
He added that those behind the contested process may shift their political engagement elsewhere, “We are aware that they are shopping for other parties to destroy and wish them bon voyage,” he said.
Calling on members to remain alert, Kachikwu warned that the dispute was not yet concluded.
“To our party faithful, I urge you to remain vigilant. The battle is not over till it is over,” he said.
He, however, expressed confidence in the party’s future electoral participation, stressing, “The ADC will be in next year’s ballot, and any Nigerian who genuinely desires to salvage Nigeria should see the ADC as a ready home. We shall overcome".
In a separate reaction, the Abia State Chairman of the ADC and Interim Spokesman of the party’s Interim National Executive Committee (NEC), Don Norman Obinna, said the ruling settles the question of authority over party congresses and affirms the role of state structures.
“This judgment represents a victory not for individuals, but for the party and its constitutional processes,” he said.
Obinna said the central dispute before the court was whether the National Working Committee, led by David Mark, or the state chairmen had the authority to conduct ward and local government congresses.
“The core issue before the court was to determine who has the constitutional authority to conduct ward and local government congresses within the party.
“Our position is that, based on the party’s constitution, it is the responsibility of the state chairmen and their executives to conduct those congresses,” he said.
He said the dispute arose after the Mark-led National Working Committee established committees to hold congresses without following constitutional procedures.
“Before any congress can be conducted, there must be a properly convened National Executive Committee meeting to approve such decisions. In this case, no such meeting was held,” he said.
According to him, the party had not held a valid NEC meeting since July last year, despite constitutional provisions requiring regular sessions.
“As a result, decisions were being made and announced without proper consultation. Party members, including executives, were learning about major decisions through the media,” he said.
Obinna said concerns were also raised about the legal risks of such processes for future elections, noting, “We raised concerns that if these irregular processes continued, there was a real risk that any electoral victory in 2027 could later be challenged and overturned in court due to procedural flaws".
He said the state chairmen resorted to legal action after internal efforts failed, “When it became clear that our concerns were not being addressed, and that the state structures were being sidelined, we had no option but to seek legal redress to protect the integrity of the party,” he said.
Noting that the court also invalidated the convention conducted by the faction, he said, “As it stands, the recognised NEC will now take over the administration of the party and organise fresh congresses, conventions and primaries in line with due process ahead of the 2027 elections".
Regarding disciplinary actions taken earlier in the crisis, he said the court nullified suspensions and expulsions for lack of due process.
“There were court orders restraining the conduct of the convention, which were ignored. The court has effectively nullified those actions, meaning no valid expulsions took place,” he said.
He urged members to align with the recognised structure of the party, adding, “There is no basis for talking about factions, as the court has clarified the legitimate structure of the party. What is required now is for all members to align with the constitutionally recognised leadership and work together to strengthen the party ahead of the next general elections".
In its own response, the David Mark-led faction said its position on the tenure of state executives aligns with the court ruling, while it continues to review the judgment.
In a statement by National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the faction said it had consistently maintained that congress outcomes did not terminate existing state executive tenures.
“It would be recalled that we issued a statement shortly after the congresses stating that the congresses have not truncated the tenure of the current state executive, which would run its full course before the newly elected state executives are inaugurated,” he said.
The faction said its interpretation aligns with the court’s pronouncement, which has been subject to varying media interpretations.
“The attention of the African Democratic Congress has been drawn to media reports that the Federal High Court has sacked the elected, but yet to be inaugurated, state chairmen of our party,” Abdullahi said.
He added that the leadership had directed its legal team to study the judgment, stating, “Nevertheless, the leadership of ADC has instructed its legal team to review the said judgment and advise the party appropriately".
The party said its subsequent actions would be guided by legal advice, with emphasis on compliance and internal stability as it prepares for future electoral engagements.
