A faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), headed by David Mark, has announced the expulsion of a factional leader of the party, Nafiu Bala, and the member representing the Yagba federal constituency of Kogi State in the House of Representatives, Leke Abejide.
It also disclosed the expulsion of other party members, including a factional leader, Kingsley Temitope, Kennedy Odion, Noman Obinna, Stella Chukwuma, and four others.
The move followed allegations of anti-party activities and attempts to create confusion and instability within the party.
According to the party, the expulsions were carried out pursuant to Article 19(2) of its constitution, which empowers the national convention to suspend or expel any member, as well as exercise disciplinary control over all organs, officers, and members.
The expulsion motion was initiated by Binos Yaroe, the senator for the Adamawa South Senatorial District, and supported by Abdussamad Dasuki, representing the Kebbi/Tambuwal federal constituency in the House of Representatives.
The ADC is currently divided into three separate groups vying for control of the party structure ahead of the 2027 general elections. Apart from the Mark faction, the most prominent of all, there is Mr Bala’s faction and the newly emerged Dumebi Kachikwu faction, each claiming to be the legitimate leadership of the party.
Messrs Bala and Abejide are members of the same faction. Bala was the ADC governorship candidate in the 2023 election in Gombe State before becoming the party’s deputy national chairman under the leadership of Ralph Nwosu, whose administration handed over to the Mark-led faction.
Abejide, on the other hand, was the sole incumbent lawmaker elected under the platform of the ADC after the 2023 polls. However, in recent months, several lawmakers, including senators and members of the House of Representatives, have defected to the party.
Despite these events, Mr Abejide seems unhappy with the leadership hierarchy led by Mr Mark. He recently challenged the leadership in court, seeking to restrain Messrs Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from parading themselves as the national chairman and national secretary of the party.
The faction stated that the expelled members were offered a chance to correct their actions but failed to do so, leaving the party with no alternative but to expel them.
