ADC Chairmen Reject Alleged Party Hijack by David Mark-Led Coalition

The internal crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) escalated on Tuesday as the party’s state chairmen strongly opposed what they described as an attempted “political coup” orchestrated by a group led by former Senate President, David Mark.

In a joint statement signed by the forum’s leader, Elias Adokwu, and its Publicity Secretary, Godwin Alaku, titled “Rejecting the Political Junta by Defending ADC and Nigeria’s Democracy Against Subversion,” the chairmen denounced the move as a “blatant and reckless subversion” of the party’s structure and the nation’s democratic principles.

They accused the coalition of attempting an unconstitutional takeover of the party through “manipulation and backdoor dealings,” describing the effort as a sham cloaked in selfish ambition rather than a genuine ideological shift.

“This is not a political realignment but a civilian junta, seeking power outside the bounds of legality and democracy,” the statement read. The chairmen further described the action as a betrayal of those who have worked tirelessly to uphold democracy in Nigeria.

The group alleged that the coalition was working to undermine the party’s unity through “personal ambition and inducements from outside forces,” while reaffirming their commitment to democratic ideals, rule of law, and ideological consistency. “The ADC is not for sale, not up for hijack, and certainly not a haven for failed political actors,” they declared.

They also questioned the electoral and ideological credibility of the coalition, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reject any moves aimed at legitimising what they termed an “illegitimate junta.”

Furthermore, they called on Nigerians and civil society to resist what they described as creeping authoritarianism, and demanded law enforcement investigate the attempt to destabilise the party.

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“We, the legitimate custodians of the ADC across all states, categorically reject this illegal junta. It is our patriotic duty to defend the soul of the ADC and uphold democratic institutions in Nigeria,” the statement concluded.

In response, ADC Interim National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, dismissed the allegations, saying the party would not waste time addressing what he called “non-existent issues.”

“Who are the members of this so-called Forum of State Party Chairmen?” he asked. “Nigerians should not be distracted by a group looking for relevance. There is nothing serious to respond to.”