ADC Convention: Mark-led faction expels Bala, Abejide, others over party dispute

David Mark-led faction of the African Democratic Congress has expelled several senior figures over allegations of anti-party conduct during its national convention held in Abuja on Tuesday.

Among those removed from the party are factional national chairman Nafiu Bala and House of Representatives member Leke Abejide. Others affected include former deputy national chairman Kenneth Ehiator, Stella Chukwu, and Elias Adiukwu.

The decision followed a motion presented on the convention floor by Senator Binos Yaroe, representing Adamawa South. Delegates supported and adopted the motion without opposition, leading to the immediate expulsion of the listed members.

Party officials said the affected individuals were accused of actions considered harmful to internal cohesion and the broader direction of the ADC, which is currently divided by competing leadership structures.

The convention took place amid an ongoing struggle for control of the party’s national leadership. Rival camps within the ADC continue to assert authority, with parallel claims over legitimacy and recognition.

The dispute has also reached the courts. Counsel to the party, Jibrin Okutepa, confirmed that the Supreme Court has fast-tracked hearings on appeals relating to the leadership crisis, with timelines set for the filing of legal arguments.

The conflict traces back to a Court of Appeal ruling that triggered changes in the party’s recognised leadership structure. Following the judgment, the Independent National Electoral Commission removed the names of both David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its records of party officers, deepening the dispute.

Mark has since filed an appeal seeking to suspend the enforcement of the judgment while the substantive issues remain before the courts.

In an earlier comment on the case, Okutepa said the Supreme Court would first determine whether questions around party leadership fall within its jurisdiction, after which further proceedings would follow.

Separately, reports around the convention indicated rising tension after allegations surfaced that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, allegedly pressured the owners of Rainbow Event Centre to withdraw hosting rights for the ADC gathering.