Faction insists on Kachikwu as ADC presidential candidate, Nwosu blames government for crisis

Politics

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) deepened on Tuesday as Don Norman, National Publicity Secretary of the Dumebi Kachikwu-led National Executive Committee (NEC), dismissed claims that the party was divided into factions.

Norman, who also serves as the Abia State Chairman of the ADC, made the remarks while featuring on ARISE News Morning Show, where he insisted that there was only one legally recognised leadership structure within the party.

According to him, contrary to widespread reports, there was no “Dumebi Kachikwu faction” or “David Mark faction” in the ADC.

“We are the highest decision-making body of the ADC,” Norman said during the interview.

He alleged that the group associated with former Senate President, David Mark, was attempting to mislead Nigerians regarding the true state of affairs within the party.

Norman claimed that a judgment delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja had rendered the David Mark-led National Working Committee illegal and restrained it from acting on behalf of the ADC.

According to him, the NEC aligned with Kachikwu moved to reclaim what he described as the legitimate structure of the party after challenging the legality of congresses and conventions organised by the David Mark-led group.

“If there was nothing to execute, why did they go to court to execute the judgment?” he asked.

Norman argued that respect for court orders and the rule of law remained fundamental principles of democracy, insisting that the Kachikwu-led NEC was the authentic leadership organ of the ADC.

“We are not the Dumebi Kachikwu-led faction. We are the NEC of ADC,” he said.

He further stated that congresses organised by his group were approved by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), while noting that Kachikwu had been a member of the ADC since 2021.

Norman described Kachikwu as the only legitimate presidential candidate of the party and maintained that the David Mark-led group lacked the legal authority to conduct national congresses or conventions.

“The judgment bars David Mark from conducting a national convention,” he alleged.

He also accused some state chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of allegedly sponsoring litigation against the ADC leadership.

According to him, the coalition agreement involving some opposition figures was never formally approved or presented to state chairmen of the party.

“A lot of things have happened which the ADC working committee are hiding. The coalition agreement was never sealed nor sighted by any state ADC chairman,” he claimed.

Norman further alleged that the congresses organised by the David Mark-led group had already been nullified by the court.

He, however, acknowledged that INEC officials were absent at the convention conducted by his faction on Sunday, though he said the commission had been formally notified before the exercise.

Meanwhile, former National Chairman of the ADC, Ralph Nwosu, also reacted to the crisis, dismissing claims that the party was factionalised.

Nwosu alleged that external political forces were behind attempts to destabilise the ADC following the growing popularity of the party ahead of future elections.

“What is happening in the party is the handiwork of the powers of the moment trying to rub mud on what we have built,” he said.

The former chairman rejected Norman’s claims that state chairmen were excluded from decisions taken by the party leadership, insisting that they participated in the process that dissolved the former national leadership structure.

According to him, disagreements began when some state chairmen allegedly insisted on retaining their positions during congresses, contrary to the party’s internal rules.

Nwosu also accused the ruling APC of interfering in the internal affairs of the ADC and attempting to weaken opposition politics in the country.

“There is no faction in ADC. We are progressing, and we are doing it very well. The ADC is being run by citizens dedicated to seeing change,” he stated.

He further defended David Mark’s leadership role in the party, describing the former Senate President as disciplined and focused on repositioning the ADC for national relevance.

“David Mark is now focused on delivering results to Nigeria. He is using his military discipline to run the party,” Nwosu added.

The former chairman also stated that the understanding behind the opposition coalition arrangement was that all parties and stakeholders involved would work collectively toward winning future elections and share responsibilities in government if successful.

Nwosu further alleged that Nafiu Bala‑Gombe was intercepted by individuals linked to political interests intent on infiltrating and destabilising the ADC, and that Bala‑Gombe now works for them.