The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is embroiled in a fresh leadership crisis following the controversial adoption of the party as a platform for a new opposition coalition aimed at challenging President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections. Dumebi Kachikwu, the ADC’s 2023 presidential candidate, has publicly rejected the coalition’s move, citing provisions in the party’s constitution that bar new members from holding leadership positions. This development has sparked significant debate within Nigeria’s political landscape, highlighting tensions within the ADC and raising questions about the legitimacy of the coalition’s actions.
On July 2, 2025, a coalition of prominent opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former governors Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, Sule Lamido, and others, announced the adoption of the ADC as their political platform for the 2027 elections. The coalition appointed former Senate President David Mark as interim national chairman and former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola as interim national secretary. The announcement was made in Abuja, with former ADC national chairman Ralph Nwosu handing over membership cards to the new interim leadership.
However, Kachikwu, a prominent figure within the ADC, has described the move as a “political dramedy” and accused the coalition of entering the party “through the back door.” He argues that the coalition’s actions are unconstitutional and lack legitimacy, primarily due to the ADC’s constitutional requirement that individuals must have been party members for at least two years to hold leadership positions.
According to Kachikwu, the ADC’s constitution explicitly states that to hold any office within the party, an individual must have been a member for at least two years. He emphasized that no national convention has been held to amend this provision, rendering the appointments of David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as interim chairman and secretary, respectively, fraudulent and unconstitutional. “There’s been no convention to amend that. How are they now claiming they’re interim chairman, interim secretary, and declaring across the board that everyone has resigned? That’s just fraudulent,” Kachikwu stated during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on July 2, 2025.
Kachikwu further argued that the coalition’s alliance is with a defunct leadership led by Ralph Nwosu, whose tenure as national chairman expired on August 21, 2022. He noted that Nwosu’s continued claim to the chairmanship has been the subject of multiple unresolved court cases across Nigeria, further complicating the coalition’s attempt to take over the party. “The Atiku-led group is in some form of alliance with the former leadership of the party led by Ralph Nwosu. The tenure of the Nwosu-led executive lapsed on August 21, 2022,” Kachikwu said.
Kachikwu has been vocal in his criticism of the coalition, describing its members as “enemies of Nigeria” and “yesterday’s men” who are more interested in personal gain than the welfare of Nigerians. He accused the coalition of attempting to hijack the ADC without consulting its grassroots members or adhering to the party’s constitutional guidelines. “Can you build something on nothing? Can you shave a man’s hair in his absence? Can you enter a man’s house through the back door and declare yourself the landlord?” he queried, emphasizing the lack of transparency and legitimacy in the coalition’s actions.
He further argued that the coalition, which includes former governors, ministers, and other high-profile politicians, represents a “bad chapter in Nigeria’s past” and cannot offer the fresh ideas needed to move the country forward. “Nigerians are tired of your generation and reject everything you have to offer,” Kachikwu said, addressing the coalition’s leaders.
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- 2027 opposition coalition adopts ADC as political platform, names David Mark Chairman, Aregbesola Secretary
Kachikwu has vowed to challenge the coalition’s actions legally, stating that he and other concerned ADC members will write to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for clarification on the matter. “To make things easy for Nigerians, we shall be communicating with INEC. If INEC says that a man who left the party 18 years ago, whose tenure ended two years ago, is now chairman, I will gracefully bow out of the party,” he said.
The ADC has been grappling with internal leadership disputes since the 2023 general elections, with ongoing legal battles over the legitimacy of its leadership. Kachikwu and several state chairmen, who also disown the coalition’s takeover, argue that any attempt to form a coalition without resolving these legal issues is “irresponsible and potentially self-destructive.”
Posts on X have echoed Kachikwu’s sentiments, with users pointing out the constitutional barrier to new members holding leadership positions. One user, @hon_Asadiq, stated, “In the ADC constitution, it’s unconstitutional for a new member to be part of the national working committee,” suggesting that the appointments of Mark and Aregbesola could face legal challenges.
This is not the first time Kachikwu has clashed with the ADC leadership. In September 2022, the party suspended and later expelled him as its presidential candidate, citing “anti-party activities” and “gross misconduct.” The suspension came after Kachikwu and 27 state chairmen called for Nwosu’s resignation, arguing that his 17-year tenure as national chairman was unconstitutional. The ADC’s disciplinary panel found Kachikwu guilty of making defamatory statements and attempting to blackmail party executives.
Despite his expulsion, Kachikwu has remained a vocal figure within the ADC, positioning himself as a defender of the party’s constitution and its grassroots ethos. His current opposition to the coalition’s takeover is consistent with his earlier criticisms of Nwosu’s leadership and his push for adherence to the party’s constitutional guidelines.
The ADC, established in 2005 and registered as the African Democratic Congress with INEC, has positioned itself as a grassroots party aimed at representing working-tier and disadvantaged Nigerians. Its adoption by the Atiku-led coalition, which includes prominent figures from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other parties, has raised concerns about the party’s independence and identity. Critics, including Kachikwu, argue that the coalition’s move risks turning the ADC into a “private coalition platform” for political elites, undermining its original mission.
Aisha Yesufu, an ally of Labour Party’s Peter Obi, clarified that the ADC did not merge with other parties but was simply adopted as a platform by the coalition. However, this clarification has done little to quell the concerns of Kachikwu and other ADC members who feel sidelined by the coalition’s actions.
The controversy surrounding the ADC’s adoption by the Atiku-led coalition underscores the challenges of maintaining party unity and constitutional integrity in Nigeria’s complex political landscape. Dumebi Kachikwu’s insistence on the ADC’s two-year membership rule highlights a broader struggle for control and legitimacy within the party. As legal battles loom and the 2027 elections approach, the ADC’s ability to navigate this crisis will determine its relevance as a political force. For now, Kachikwu’s vocal opposition serves as a reminder that political alliances must respect established rules and grassroots support to succeed.
