By Aaron Ossai
In a dramatic turn of event, factional leaders of the African Democratic Congress, ADC have rejected the party’s National Convention held in Abuja recently describing it as a breach of the Constitution and therefore illegitimate.
Led by the recently expelled factional Chairman, Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe and a two term federal lawmaker, Hon. Joseph Leke Abejide, the leaders insisted that the crisis rocking the party is not an internal affair but an attempt to hijack the party by new entrants.
The duo alongside two other party stalwarts made this known at a media briefing where they described the recent convention of the party held in Abuja as a nullity.
The event according to the party stakeholders “is to address several critical matters that are essential to the consolidation and strengthening of democratic norms and values.”
According to the factional chairman, Hon.Bala Nafiu Gombe, “a few days ago, a coalition of individuals convened and purported to hold an elective convention in Abuja, despite the clear, binding and subsisting judgment of the Court of Appeal.”
He said that the exercise raises grave legal and constitutional questions as to its legitimacy and validity.
Speaking further, he argeued that any action taken in flagrant disregard of the Court of Appeal’s judgment delivered on 12th March 2026 is not only of questionable legality but is liable to be declared null, void, and of no effect by the Federal High Court upon final determination of the pending suit.
Furthermore, he stated that the noticeable absence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from the convention strongly indicates that the process lacks official recognition and cannot stand judicial scrutiny as to its legitimacy.
“Their conduct is not unexpected, as those individuals have a documented history of contempt for the rule of law, evidenced by the manner in which they purportedly joined the party several months ago in clear violation of the party’s Constitution.
“As far as the duly constituted and legitimate leadership of the party is concerned, the coalition group are not members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
“Consequently, they lack the requisite locus standi to convene or conduct any congresses or conventions, and any resolutions or decisions emanating from such gatherings are devoid of legal effect and cannot pass the test of legality”, he said.
The factional party leader who is the faction’s chairman said that it is particularly noteworthy that while they were engaged in the said unlawful assembly, their counsel was before the Supreme Court seeking Judicial validation of the same congresses and convention, thereby underscoring the illegitimacy of the entire exercise.
He revealed that what they have observed is that in certain quarters, there is a misconception that their court case relates to internal party affairs adding that he wish to clarify that this matter is not an internal party affairs.
He also stated that the case pending before Honourable Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja is clearly about a breach of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Constitution and an infringement of rights as a bona fide member of the party.
The matter has now escalated to a criminal dimension, involving the preparation of a false document bearing my forged signature, with the intent to damage my reputation.
“Senator David Mark and his associates have relied on Section 83(5) of th Electoral Act, 2026, to avoid judicial scrutiny. However, they appear unaware that the said section contains a proviso”, he said.
He said that where a member’s rights al infringed upon or the party’s constitution is breached, the court is vest with jurisdiction to entertain and determine the suit
Also speaking with the same tone, a two term federal lawmaker Hon.Joseph Leke Abejide (Kogi,ADC) said that the recently held convention by a group of persons acting as leaders of the party is null and void
He said that the organizers of the convention the party hijackers who only came to the convention venue to steal, kill and destroy.
He further said that there is a substiting court order by a Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal that there should be no convention by the party until the matter is decided and discharged by the courts
He added that if they are progressives, they will be looking for a good avenue for the exercise instead of choosing a garden despite the existence of many monumental edifices in many parts of the nation for the convention.
