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By Oscar Okhifo
A serving member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Leke Abejide, has described the recent leadership change in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as illegal and a blatant abuse of the party’s constitution.
Abejide, who represents Yagba Federal Constituency, Kogi State and is one of ADC’s most prominent elected figures.
Recall that the ADC recently witnessed a leadership change as former Senate President, David Mark, emerged its Interim National Chairman while former governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola became the Interim National Secretary.
This was shortly after the coalition forces led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar adopted the ADC as the platform it intends to prosecute the 2027 election against President Bola Tinubu.
Not surprisingly, allies of the former Vice President, Dele Momodu and Senator Dino Melaye have since joined the ADC, with Atiku expected to do same in the weeks ahead.
Abejide condemned what he termed the “forceful” takeover of the National Executive Committee (NEC) by a group of individuals without due process.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja after a stakeholders meeting, Abejide said, “What happened was a clear violation of the ADC Constitution. There are laid-down procedures for convening NEC meetings and electing party leaders. Anything done outside those rules is illegal and will not stand.”
He alleged that some actors in the recent coalition formation were attempting to hijack the party’s structure for personal political gain ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The lawmaker also distanced himself from the coalition arrangement recently announced by some ADC members alongside other smaller parties, warning that any alliance not approved by a properly constituted NEC has no legitimacy.
“ADC is not up for grabs. We have rules and structures. No one can just wake up and announce a new leadership or alliance without the consent of the real stakeholders,” Abejide added.
He further dismissed the emerging coalition as a toothless political experiment, warning that any attempt to challenge President Bola Tinubu through such an arrangement is bound to fail.
“Let me be clear! Any coalition formed on illegality and built on personal ambition rather than national interest is doomed to collapse. President Tinubu is firmly in control, and such moves will not unseat him,” he said.
Abejide urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and relevant security agencies to intervene and prevent what he described as a deliberate attempt to destabilize the party.
This development follows growing internal tension within the ADC after a factional group claimed to have formed a new leadership and entered into a political coalition without full party “consensus”.
The party’s candidate in the 2023 Presidential election, Dumebi kachikwu is among the party’s faithful who believe that the process was fraudulent and skewed to the personal interest of some elements, desperate to grab power.