Kachikwu faction challenges ADC leadership, plans parallel convention

The crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress continued on Monday as a faction of the party loyal to its former presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, announced plans to hold a parallel convention on May 24 to elect a presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

The faction, backed by a group of state chairmen, also unveiled a schedule of activities beginning with ward and local government congresses on May 7, followed by state congresses on May 8, ahead of the proposed special convention.

Chairman of the ADC State Chairmen Forum, Kingsley Ogga, confirmed the development to our correspondent in Abuja, insisting that the exercise would be conducted under what he described as the party’s lawful structures.

According to him, ward and local government non-elective congresses had been slated for May 7, while the state congress would be held on May 8.

He added that the party’s special convention and presidential primary, where its candidate is expected to emerge, has been fixed for May 24.

The faction also insisted that the processes were in line with the party’s constitution, the Electoral Act, and a recent judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

“These congresses and special conventions are officially authorised, recognised, and valid only when conducted through the lawful structures of the NEC of the ADC.

“All party members, delegates, aspirants, and stakeholders are advised to recognise and participate strictly via the official NEC channels at all levels.

“For clarity, any parallel congress, convention, primary election, delegate process, nomination, or political activity organised by any unauthorised caretaker group or any illegal faction outside the NEC’s authority will be considered null, void, and legally ineffective.

“Only those delegates, nominations, outcomes, resolutions, and primary results from the NEC-approved processes will be accepted, recognised, and binding for the 2027 General Elections,” he said.

Kachikwu’s faction maintained that only activities conducted under the authority of the party’s National Executive Committee would be recognised, warning members against participating in any parallel arrangements by rival factions.

The development signals a deepening power struggle within the ADC, with rival blocs laying claim to the party’s leadership and structures ahead of the next electoral cycle.

The latest move came barely 24 hours after the David Mark-led leadership announced that its presidential candidate would emerge from a primary election fixed for May 25, 2026.

The date was contained in a timetable of activities signed by the ADC National Organising Secretary, Chinedu Idigo, and made available to journalists on Sunday by the National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi.

The party also fixed the cost of its presidential and governorship expression of interest and nomination forms at N100m and N50m, respectively, as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections, while governorship and state Houses of Assembly polls are fixed for February 6, 2027.

A week ago, Kachikwu and several state chairmen welcomed a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja, which nullified congresses conducted by the David Mark-led faction within the party.

The faction had opposed the congresses and conventions organised by a group led by former Senate President David Mark, describing them as unconstitutional.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who delivered the ruling, restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising or participating in any congress organised by the disputed caretaker leadership.

The court also barred Mark and others from interfering with the functions of elected state executives, affirming that only constitutionally recognised organs of the party are empowered to conduct congresses.

Despite the ruling, both factions have continued to assert legitimacy, raising concerns over further fragmentation within the party as preparations for the 2027 general elections intensify.