The Akwa Ibom State chapter of the ADC Coalition Leadership Team has dismissed allegations made by Dick Duke against Ben Smith, the Assistant National Organising Secretary for the South-South region. The team described Duke’s claims as “constitutionally selective, historically inconsistent, and contrary to binding national precedents” of the party.
Duke had accused Smith of being involved in unconstitutional activities and claimed to be the legitimate leader of the party in Akwa Ibom State, recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). However, the ADC Coalition Leadership Team countered that Smith’s actions were “constitutionally grounded, nationally delegated, and precedent-backed.”
According to Kingsley Okposin, the South-South Zonal Coordinator, Duke’s claims are unfounded, and he is not the recognized chairman of the party in the state. Okposin stated that Mercy Edeke remains the authentic and INEC-recognized chairman, elected in 2022, with her tenure set to end in 2026. He also pointed out that Duke’s tenure as the State Ex-Officio of the APC expired in October 2025, and there is no record of his resignation from the party or his appointment as the ADC State Chairman.
The ADC Coalition Leadership Team emphasized that Akwa Ibom State is currently in a transitional phase, pending congresses, and that no individual can appropriate party structures without the authority of the National Working Committee (NWC) and the coalition. The team decried Duke’s public display of disobedience to the interim leadership guidelines, stating that such actions constitute direct disobedience to the NWC.
The ADC Coalition Leadership Team’s response aims to counter the “misleading narrative” circulating under Duke’s name, which they claim distorts the party’s constitution and misapplies its organogram. The team reiterated that the party will not be hijacked by misinterpretation, intimidation, or constitutional distortion. The development highlights the ongoing internal dynamics within the party, as it navigates its transitional phase and prepares for future elections.
