The crisis in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) deepened on Tuesday as state chairmen of the party strongly rejected the newly announced coalition led by former Senate President, Senator David Mark. In a statement jointly signed by Elias Adokwu and Godwin Alaku, the chairmen described the leadership arrangement as an unconstitutional hijack of the party, calling it a “political coup” that undermines Nigeria’s democratic values.
The statement, titled “Rejecting the Political Junta by Defending ADC and Nigeria’s Democracy Against Subversion,” condemned the move as a reckless subversion of the party’s constitution. The chairmen accused the coalition, which includes prominent opposition figures such as David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, and Atiku Abubakar, of attempting to seize the party’s structure through manipulation and extra-legal tactics.
According to the chairmen, the newly formed coalition does not represent a genuine ideological alignment but is instead a desperate attempt by political actors to impose themselves on the party. They described it as a “civilian junta” operating outside the party’s legal framework. The chairmen warned that the move insults those who have worked hard to build the party and support democratic governance in Nigeria.
They further accused the coalition of plotting to fracture the political process for personal gain, warning that the ADC would not serve as a platform for political mercenaries or discredited power brokers. They reaffirmed their loyalty to democratic principles, internal party democracy, and the rule of law, stating that the ADC is not for sale or hijack.
In their statement, the chairmen also questioned the legitimacy and electoral value of those involved in the coalition, daring them to prove their worth through legal party channels. They urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reject the new leadership, which they described as illegitimate and unconstitutional.
The forum also called on civil society and the Nigerian public to resist what they described as creeping authoritarianism disguised as political coalition-building. They asked law enforcement agencies to investigate the attempted destabilization of the party and hold those involved accountable.
The leadership crisis follows the recent announcement of the ADC as the adopted platform of a broader opposition coalition gearing up for the 2027 presidential elections. That coalition had appointed Senator David Mark as interim chairman, with former Osun governor Rauf Aregbesola as secretary, sparking immediate backlash from within the party ranks.
Concluding their statement, the state chairmen reaffirmed their position as the legitimate custodians of the ADC structure across Nigeria. “We reject this illegitimate junta,” they said. “It is our patriotic duty to defend the soul of the ADC and protect the sanctity of democratic structures in Nigeria.”
