The State Chairmen Forum of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the party’s factions led by David Mark and Nafiu Bala. Speaking on behalf of the forum at a press conference yesterday in Abuja, Don Obinna, Chairman of the ADC in Abia, said Mark and Bala “hijacked” the party from the “bonafide” members.

He backed the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) decision to withdraw recognition from the Mark and Bala factions following an interim ruling by the Appeal court. Obinna said Dumebi Kachikwu, the party’s former presidential candidate, remains a member of the ADC, describing his expulsion as “an act of desperation taken too far”.

“We disassociate the ADC from David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, Bolaji Abdullahi, Prof Osunbor and all members of the so-called coalition who attempted to hijack our party and state that all actions taken by them in the name of the ADC are not binding on the ADC,” Obinna remarked.

“We disassociate the ADC from the claims of Nafiu Gombe and firmly and unequivocally state that he has never held the position of deputy chairman of the ADC. “The ADC remains a party of and for all Nigerians and not just for former political office holders and the elites.

The ADC is also not for sale. “The people who have called themselves the coalition have no democratic credentials and are only interested in a power grab as evidenced by the way and manner in which they attempted to hijack our party and throw out the original members. “We affirm that our former presidential candidate, Mr Dumebi Kachikwu, is a committed and bona fide member of our party whose purported expulsion by the David Mark-led group was an act of desperation taken too far.”

The forum announced an interim committee to oversee the party’s activities pending a national convention. Members of the committee include, Ogga Kingsley (Acting Chairman), Odion Kennedy (Secretary), Muhammad Jidda (Deputy Chairman), Kabiru Hussaini (Assistant Secretary), Charles Omidji (National Organising Secretary), Johnny Derek (Deputy Organising Secretary), Stella Chukwuma (Treasurer), Obinna (Publicity Secretary), and Samuel Gyang (Financial Secretary).

Since July 2025, when an opposition coalition took over the ADC leadership, the party has been embroiled in internal disputes, with Bala, a former deputy national chairman, alleging that Mark was illegally appointed as the national chairman.

The crisis escalated last Wednesday when the electoral umpire derecognised the Mark-led leadership. INEC said it would refrain from engaging with Mark’s leadership and the Bala faction, citing the March 12 judgement of the Court of Appeal. The Commission said it would not attend meetings, congresses or conventions of the groups pending the determination of a case before the Federal High Court.