The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has expelled former Deputy National Chairman Nafiu Bala Gombe and House of Representatives member Leke Abejide, according to a statement released following the party’s National Congress in Abuja on Tuesday. The decision was part of a broader purge that also saw the removal of Kenneth Ehiator, Stella Chukwu, and Elias Adiukwu from the party.
The expulsions come amid a deepening internal dispute over the party’s leadership. Nafiu Bala Gombe has continued to assert his claim to the position of National Chairman, despite the party’s leadership under former Senate President David Mark insisting he had resigned from his role as Deputy National Chairman. The rift escalated last week when Gombe and Abejide led a protest to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), demanding that prominent political figures—including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and David Mark—stay away from the ADC. They accused these figures of attempting to hijack the party’s structure and direction.
Gombe’s legal challenge against the Mark-led leadership prompted INEC to temporarily de-recognize the party’s current executive, citing the ongoing dispute. The electoral commission has since been monitoring developments closely, as the leadership tussle threatens to disrupt the ADC’s participation in upcoming electoral activities.
The ADC’s National Congress, which formalized the expulsions, reaffirmed its backing for David Mark’s leadership and emphasized the need for party unity ahead of future elections. Party officials stated that the expelled members had violated internal party rules and undermined the party’s cohesion through their public actions and legal challenges.
Observers note that the conflict within the ADC reflects broader tensions in Nigeria’s opposition landscape, where competing factions often vie for control of smaller parties. The outcome of this dispute could have implications for the party’s electoral strategy and its ability to present a united front in future contests. INEC has yet to issue a final ruling on the party’s leadership, and the situation remains fluid as both sides prepare for further legal and political engagement.
