The major challenges to the quest by the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) for power in 2027 are beginning to manifest, five weeks after many opposition politicians formally adopted it as the vehicle for their aspiration.

The battle for the party?s leadership, which broke out as soon as former Senate President David Mark was named the interim national chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as national secretary, has continued unabated.

Some party functionaries in the old dispensation are refusing to acknowledge any change in leadership, with some even going to court to challenge what they call illegal takeover.

Some others, including the party?s presidential candidate in 2023 Dumebi Kachikwu, are threatening more litigation.

Chairmen of the party in Borno, Benue and Nasarawa states are resisting the new leadership in Abuja.

Investigation by The Nation across the states revealed that despite the fanfare that attended the July 1, 2025 adoption of ADC by the opposition, its presence in many states appears too feeble for a party that hopes to displace the ruling one.

It was gathered that the new NEC of the party is yet to settle down and understand the needs and challenges of the state chapters.

On their part, the state chapters, which are in tune with the new leaders in Abuja, are awaiting directives on how to get the party going at the grassroots.

In Lagos, Kaduna, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti, Bayelsa, Delta, Borno, Edo, Sokoto, Enugu, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi and Kebbi states, among others, the ADC looks more like a fringe party.

Although the George Hashiru-led executive committee in Lagos State remains in office, no notable politician has so far switched allegiance.

The state remains a stronghold of the APC, which won the July 12 local government elections overwhelmingly.

In neighboring Ogun State, the only time ADC made waves was 2019 when Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka contested that year?s governorship election against the man who later won, Prince Dapo Abiodun of APC.

ADC has since slipped into obscurity following Isiaka?s defection to the APC.

He is currently the member of the House of Representatives for Imeko/Afon.

Otunba Femi Soluade, son of the Second Republic Deputy Governor of Ogun state, is the current Chairman of ADC in the state.

Notable ADC members in Ekiti and their profiles

In Ekiti State, the only recent notable additions to the party are Prof. Kolapo Olusola-Eleka, Dr. Sikiru Lawal, Dare Abejide, Gboyega Aribisogan and Chief Segun Akinwunmi

Olusola-Eleka was deputy governor under Governor Ayo Fayose between 2014 and 2018, and was PDP?s governorship candidate in 2018. He lost to ex-governor Kayode Fayemi with a narrow margin.

Dr. Lawal was the Labour Party governorship candidate in the 2018 governorship poll. He defected from the PDP to LP on account of disagreement with Fayose.

Abejide was Secretary to the Ekiti State Government under Segun Oni and was the candidate of the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) in the 2018 governorship poll while Aribisogan defected from the PDP to APC in 2018 following a feud with Fayose.

He had also served as speaker of the Sixth Assembly, but his tenure lasted only six days following his impeachment.

Akinwumi was a chieftain of the PDP until his defection to ADC.

The evolving ADC structure in Osun State is being built around former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who is the current Interim National Secretary of the party.

Aregbesola was in the APC.

With him to drive ADC in the state are ex-Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Najeem Salam; former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Moshood Adeoti; and Elder Adelowo Adebiyi, a former state chairman of APC .Observers said the party stands a little chance in the state given the entrenchment of the APC and the PDP at all levels.

Governor Ademola Adeleke and the state chapter of the PDP recently pledged their support for the re-election of President Tinubu in 2007.

South East

The party is practically non- existent in Enugu State; the only visible and outspoken member being actor and lawyer, Kenneth Okonkwo.

Okonkwo campaigned vigorously for Peter Obi in 2023 but has since parted ways with him.

His face is a regular feature on television and social media.

Former House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha is the face of ADC in Imo.

Ihedioha made a dramatic return to politics last month through the ADC.

He had announced his exit from active politics some months back.

He is a former governor of the state, whose election was nullified by the Supreme Court.

The party?s popularity in Anambra will be put to test in the November 8 governorship election when its candidate, John Nwosu, will square up with Governor Charles Soludo.

Nwosu,?s running mate, Dr Ndubuisi Nwobu, was once Anambra State Chairman of Action Congress (AC) and later, chairman of the People?s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

Also in Anambra ADC are Comrade Patrick Obianyo, a former chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state; Ben-Chuks Nwosu, a two-term member of the state House of Assembly.

Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu, the former National Chairman of the party, who handed over its affairs to Senator Mark, is from Anambra State as is Peter Obi who has been campaigning for the LP candidate.

The party Is currently embroiled in a leadership tussle in Abia State.

A faction led by Deacon Iyke Nwoke is locked in a battle with that of Obinna Don-Norman for the soul of the party.

The 2023 governorship candidate of the party, Sunday Onuoha, was recently elevated to the position of Archbishop.

The key members of the party in Ebonyi are Linus Abaa Okorie and Silas Onu.

Mr Okorie represented Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives for two terms from 2011 to 2019.

He was the candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 election for Ebonyi South Senatorial zone, losing to David Umahi. He also lost to Umahi?s successor, Senator Anthony Ani, in the 2024 by-election after Umahi was made Minister by President Bola Tinubu.

Onu, a lawyer from Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area, is a former state chairman of the PDP.

He was the Senatorial candidate of the party for the 2024 bye election in Ebonyi South Senatorial Zone.

South South

The presence of ADC in Rivers State is being facilitated by a former governor of the state and former Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi.

Amaechi, who has declared his presidential ambition on the platform of the party, is expected to attract some of his former allies in the APC and PDP.

However, not many of such allies have openly declared for the ADC for now.

Observers believe that a former national chairman of the PDP and ally of Atiku, Uche Secondus, former Transport Minister Dr. Abiye Sekibo; Senator Lee Maeba and Senator Andrew Uchendu will switch camps to ADC.

A leadership crisis in the Bayelsa State chapter of the party is seriously hampering its activities, according to sources.

It currently has no functional office in the state, but its state chairman, Mr Johnny Tovie Derek, is visible on social media.

The party?s South South zonal chairman, Mr Festus Igbinoba, said Derek is the duly recognised chairman in the state and described those talking about leadership crisis as those who do not wish the party well.

Igbinoba said the party was aware of efforts by some persons in government to sow the seed of discord in the party as a way of ensuring that the unity currently enjoyed in the party is scuttled, but noted that the party is determined to remain strong and resolute in the agenda of taking over power from the APC.

The statement reads in part: ?Mr. Tovie Johnny is the Bayelsa State ADC Chairman who was duly elected. Any other person claiming to be the state party chairman is on their own and do not enjoy the imprimatur of the party leadership.

?We adopted the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism in Bayelsa State in resolving the internal leadership issues and successfully reinstated Mr Tovie Johnny to his position as chairman.

?I, as the National Vice Chairman South South of the party was in Bayelsa State to hold stakeholders meeting of the party where Tovie Johnny was affirmed as the state party chairman.

?We therefore urge the public to deal with the executive of the party headed by Mr. Tovie Johnny.?

The ADC in Edo State already has in its rank former governor of the state and former national chairman of the APC, Chief John Oyegun; national chairman of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC), Chief Tom Ikimi; another former governor of the state, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor; Senator Roland Owie and Mr. Kenneth Imasuagbon.

However, observers wondered how much Oyegun (85), Ikimi (81), Owie (79) and Osunbor (73) have to offer at their age.

Also expected to team up with the Edo ADC are former Governor Godwin Obaseki and his supporters; Hon Jimoh Ijegbai, a former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Hon Sergius Ogun, elected twice to the House of Representatives before he fell out with the PDP and Senator Ehigie Uzamere.

Former Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke is coordinating ADC affairs in the state.

Observers are not sure of how much the former Power Minister in the Obasanjo Administration can make things happen for his new party, having been out of power for 10 years and could not save his former party, PDP, from defeat in the 2023 election.

Others with Imoke in Cross River ADC include Dr. John Ogar, Senator Gershom Bassey, Hon. Eta Mbora, Hon. Bassey Ewa, Emmanuel Ibeshi and former Minister Usani Usani.

For now, not too many notable politicians are identifying with the ADC in Delta State.

But it was gathered that economist Pat Utomi is on board.

Utomi is little know politically in the state where, in 2019, he lost his bid for the APC governorship ticket.

John Akpan Udo-Edehe who leads the party in Akwa Ibom has previously been in the PDP, APC and NNPP without delivering the state for any of them.

Sources wondered what magic he has up his sleeves now to deliver the APC-controlled state for his new party.

North West

The ADC is hardly visible in Kaduna State where former Governor Nasir El Rufai is widely expected to be its face.

El Rufai, who has been unrelenting in his criticism of the APC-led federal government, appears lost in the scheme of things for now.

His ally and former APC National Vice Chairman (North-West) Malam Salihu Lukman is the only one doing all the talking for ADC in the state, although some resistance was put up by the current party chairman, Ahmed Tijjani Mustapha, who alleged plan by the new members to hijack the party.

The ADC used to be an obscure opposition party in the state.

It is now engulfed in a crisis as the old members resist what they see as take over by the new members.

High-profile politicians expected to join soon include, Dr. John Ayuba, Senator Musa Bello and Alhaji Shuaibu Idris Mikati.

The ADC parades in Katsina State the likes of Alhaji Mustapha Inuwa, a former Secretary to the state Government Aminu Surajo Makera, Jamilu Muhammad Lion Katsina and Musa Salisu Dodo Kankara.

The most prominent name boasted by ADC in Kebbi State is the immediate past Attorney General of the Federation and Justice Minister Abubakar Malami (SAN). But he has been quiet lately.

The Kebbi State Chairman of the APC, Abubakar Kana, was dismissive of ADC, saying it has no relevance in the state.

According to Kara, Kebbi ADC is run by those he called a few immature youth.

North East

The ADC may have made its biggest inroad so far in Adamawa, home state of its leading presidential aspirant, Atiku Abubakar.

With the former vice president already in his new party are governorship candidate of APC in 2023, Senator Aishatu Ahmed (Binani); governor of the state between 2015 and 2019, Senator Jibrilla Bindow; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal; and son of former governor Murtala Nyako, Abdulazeez Nyako, who was senator for Adamawa Central Zone from 2015 to 2019.

The A?C chairman in Adamawa State, Hon Shehu Yohana, who has been in the ADC since 2019 first as an ordinary member and then as state secretary and now chairman, said the party has enough room for the many people flocking into it.

Atiku?s long time ally and former minister Maina Waziri is expected to make things happen for the party in APC controlled Yobe State.

The APC Is also firmly in control of neighbouring Borno, home state of Vice President Kashim Shettima.

North Central

Until the July takeover of ADC by the coalition politicians, House of Reps member from Yagba West in Kogi State, Leke Abejide was the face of the party in the state.

But he has been resisting the take over which has not gone down well with the pro-coalition elements, setting the ground for a face-off between the two sides.

The pro-coalition elements recently announced that they had suspended Abejide.

Other prominent ADC members in the state are Idowu Ibikunle, Minority Leader, Kogi State House of Assembly representing Yagba West State constituency; Deborah Maji, State Women Leader; Kingsley Ogga, (suspended) State Chairman; John Adaji Udaje, State Secretary; Adamu Temitope, Organising Secretary; and Ige Bernard, Zonal Women Leader.

Senator Tunde Ogbeha recently joined from PDP.

Former Sports Minister Solomon Dalung, who also joined ADC recently, said in Jos that the party is waxing strong in Plateau State.

Dalung had previously contested and lost election into the House of Representatives in Langtang North/Langtang South.

Solomon Nandy Chendan, the 2023 governorship candidate of the party in the state, described the adoption of the ADC by the opposition as a turning point in Nigerian politics.

In Benue State, former governor Gabriel Suswam has been joined by Hon. Terngu Tsegba, a former member of House of Representative Representing Gboko /Tarka Federal Constituency; Bob Tyough, former member House of Representative for Ushongu/ Kwande; Hon. Herman Hembe, former member of House of Representatives, representing Jechira Federal Constituency; Professor Tivlumun Nyitse, former Chief of Staff to the Governor; Hon Joseph Tsavsar, business man; Hon. Shiaondo Aarga, former Commissioner and Local Government chairman; and Hon Richard Gbande, former federal lawmaker representing Ukum- Logo and Katsina Ala; and David Mark, former Senate President. (The Nation)

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