The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) took a new turn on Tuesday as another faction emerged within the party, declaring itself the authentic leadership and dissociating from both the Senator David Mark-led opposition coalition and the group linked to Nafiu Bala.
The new faction, led by Don Norman Obinna, said it represents the duly elected members of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).
Addressing journalists at a press briefing in Abuja, Obinna and members of the group maintained that the tenure of former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, ended in August 2022, insisting that any action taken by him after that period lacked legitimacy.
The faction accused Nwosu of unlawfully remaining in office beyond his tenure, a development it said triggered multiple legal disputes within the party.
It also described Nwosu’s reported handover of the party structure to the David Mark-led opposition coalition as illegal and unacceptable.
In a series of resolutions announced at the briefing, the Obinna-led group formally distanced itself from Senator David Mark and other members of the coalition, insisting that they are not members of the ADC and therefore cannot speak for the party.
The faction also rejected Nafiu Bala, claiming he never occupied the office of National Vice Chairman of the party.
It further reaffirmed that the ADC’s former presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, remains a bona fide member of the party.
As part of moves to stabilise the party, the faction announced the appointment of new members to oversee its affairs pending the conduct of a national convention.
