ADC Chairmen Reject Takeover, Warn Coalition Yo Form Own Party

A faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the recent move by a coalition of opposition politicians to adopt the party as their 2027 election platform.

The group, known as the Concerned State Chairmen of ADC, described the development as an illegal takeover and a betrayal of democratic values.

Speaking in Abuja, the group’s spokesperson, Godwin Alaku, said the party was being hijacked through backdoor deals orchestrated by high-profile political actors led by former Senate President David Mark. He said those attempting to seize control of the party had no connection to its founding and had contributed nothing to its growth.

Last month, prominent political figures including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Nasir el-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, and others announced the adoption of ADC as the coalition’s new platform. Former PDP chairman Uche Secondus, ex-ministers, and several former governors were among those backing the move. Mark was announced as chairman of the new interim leadership, with Rauf Aregbesola and Bolaji Abdullahi as secretary and spokesperson respectively.

The transition was endorsed by the party’s founder and former national chairman, Ralph Nwosu, who announced the resignation of the National Working Committee on July 2. He later claimed he was offered ministerial appointments to drop the handover plan. The interim arrangement has since faced resistance within the party.

Alaku described the coalition as a cabal of self-interested elites bent on controlling the party without following due process. He dismissed the move as a political ambush, accusing the coalition of attempting to hijack a platform they did not build. He said the takeover had no legitimacy and should be seen as a hostile political coup.

He said the coalition’s tactics were a clear violation of the party’s constitution and warned that the state chairmen would not accept what he called a civilian junta. He urged the coalition to form a new party instead of destabilising the ADC. According to him, the party is not available for sale or manipulation and remains under the control of its original stakeholders.

Alaku said the state chairmen, as custodians of the party across the country, reject the new leadership structure and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to avoid recognising any illegal change in the party’s leadership.

He also called on security agencies to investigate those behind the alleged hijack, warning that unlawful interference in the country’s political process under the name of coalition building must be checked.

Elias Adokwu, who chairs the group, also claimed he had received threats for standing against the coalition’s actions. The chairmen insisted they would defend the integrity of the ADC against what they called a takeover by discredited politicians.