The leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) intensified on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, as a third faction loyal to its 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, emerged in Abuja. This new group announced its support for the de-recognition of the David Mark-led leadership and the Nafiu Gombe camp, further fracturing the party’s internal structure.
During a press briefing, the faction named Kingsley Temitope, the Kogi State Chairman of the party, as its interim national chairman. The group lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for distancing itself from the Mark-led executive following a recent Appeal Court decision.
Factional leaders trade accusations of opportunism
The emergence of the Temitope-led group has sparked a war of words between the various camps. Obinna Don Norman, the Publicity Secretary for the new faction, claimed their “rescue mission” is necessary to save the ADC from being excluded from the 2027 general elections. He asserted that the National Executive Committee (NEC) remains the only legal structure to liaise with INEC.
In response, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the David Mark-led executive, dismissed the move as opportunistic. He argued that the courts would ultimately decide the legitimacy of the various camps and questioned the authority of the state chairmen involved in the new faction.
Lagos APC says heavens won’t fall over missing parties
The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) weighed in on the crisis, stating that Nigeria’s democracy would remain intact even if the ADC and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fail to appear on the 2027 ballot. APC spokesman Seye Oladejo emphasized that compliance with electoral guidelines is mandatory for all political entities.
“Democracy is governed by laws and institutional procedures, not by sentiment, entitlement, or alarmist propaganda. Heavens will not fall if the ADC, or any other party fails to appear on the ballot as a result of its own non-compliance.”
The APC cited its own 2019 exclusion in Zamfara and Rivers states as a precedent, arguing that no party is above the law. They accused the ADC of trying to scapegoat the ruling party for “self-inflicted wounds” caused by internal disorder.
Gani Adams warns of looming dictatorship
Amidst the growing legal and political turmoil, the Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams, has raised an alarm over the potential death of opposition in Nigeria. Speaking at the 2026 Eledumare Festival in Lagos, Adams warned that the country is drifting toward a dictatorship as the judiciary is increasingly used to unsettle opposition parties.
He called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to scrutinize the injunctions being issued by judges against opposition platforms. Adams noted that a democracy without strong opposition is unsustainable and urged politicians to prioritize national stability over selfish interests.
New interim leadership of the ADC (Temitope Faction)
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National Chairman: Kingsley Temitope (Kogi)
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Secretary: Odion Kennedy (Edo)
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Deputy Chairman: Muhammad Khala Jidda (Borno)
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National Organising Secretary: Dr. Charles Idowu Omidji (Osun)
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Publicity Secretary: Obinna Don Norman (Abia)
The group maintains that this interim NEC will stand down once the legal disputes are resolved and the party returns to normalcy. For now, the battle for the soul of the ADC remains locked in the courtrooms and the corridors of INEC.
