As a legal battle begins over the legitimacy of the new African Democratic Congress (ADC) leadership, the coalition leaders have accused the President Bola Tinubu-led administration of orchestrating a plot to destabilise the movement.
The opposition leaders were reacting to moves by some aggrieved ADC members to seek legal redress over Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola’s appointments as the party’s interim national chairman and national secretary.
The adoption of ADC as the opposition coalition platform last week sparked agitations by some aggrieved members led by the party’s former presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu. These members have accused the new entrants of not following due process.
LEADERSHIP recalls that the former national chairman of ADC, Ralph Nwosu, had announced during the ADC’s unveiling that all party structures had been legitimately collapsed to accommodate the new leaders.
But the Benue State chairman of ADC, Elias Adikwu, was quoted in The Punch as saying, “We are not part of it, and we will not take it. They cannot come and take over from those who built it.”
Void appointments, aggrieved ADC members tell Abuja court
Three members of the ADC have dragged the party’s new leadership before a Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to nullify the party’s executive committee.
The plaintiffs, Adeyemi Emmanuel, Ayodeji Victor Tolu, and Haruna Ismaila, prayed the court to determine whether the party’s appointments were lawful.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ralph Nwosu, Senator David Mark, Raufu Aregbesola, and Bolaji Abdullahi, the interim party chairman, secretary and spokesman, were listed as defendants in the party.
The plaintiffs asked the court for the following reliefs: whether or not the appointment of the 4th, 5th, and 6th Defendants (David Mark, Raufu Aregbesola, and Bolaji Abdullahi) as interim national chairman, national secretary, and national publicity secretary of the 1st Defendant (ADC) was made in breach of the provisions of the ADC Constitution, 2018 (as amended); whether or not, given the combined provisions of Article 9, paragraph D of the ADC Constitution, 2018 (as amended), the 4th, 5th, and 6th Defendants are qualified to hold the respective offices to which they were appointed, among others.
They also prayed the court to grant the following reliefs: a declaration that the appointment and nomination of the three politicians as interim national chairman, national secretary, and national publicity secretary of the ADC are unconstitutional, unlawful, and null and void.
ADC accuses Presidency of sabotage
In its response, the ADC interim national publicity secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, accused the Presidency of attempting to derail the coalition’s momentum through subterfuge.
He alleged that some presidential officials are out to intimidate, coerce, and co-opt individuals to work against the opposition coalition.
He revealed that former state chairmen and key members of the party’s state executive committees in the North East and North West had been summoned to a secret meeting with top federal government officials.
“We have credible intelligence that the aim of this meeting is not for national security or peacebuilding; it is to intimidate, coerce, and, if possible, co-opt these individuals into a fabricated scheme against the opposition coalition. This is not politics. This is sabotage,” the statement reads.
According to the ADC, the motive is clear: to sow confusion within the party, de-legitimise its new leadership, and derail its rising momentum as the new face of the opposition in Nigeria.
“Let it be clear, this surreptitious dalliance with the ADC State Chairpersons by appointees of the federal government who should be focused on urgent national security priorities and challenges that the country is facing is a coordinated assault on multiparty democracy. This is how one-party states are born—through intimidation,” the ADC said.
The party further claimed that the July 1st Coalition Declaration and the July 2nd unveiling of the ADC had rattled the ruling party.
It went on: “It is now obvious that the Tinubu administration—having lost the trust of the Nigerian people—cannot withstand the pressure of a united and credible opposition. But rather than correct its ways, it has resorted to its old playbook of destabilising opposition parties.
“Let it be clear: the coalition movement is an idea whose time has come. This party belongs to every Nigerian who is tired of the lies, the manipulation, and the hardship. It belongs to every Nigerian who wants to restore decency, vision, and justice to governance. We would therefore not allow a handful of desperate men to turn Nigeria into a one-party dictatorship. And it would be our patriotic duty to resist it with every democratic means available to us.”
The ADC called on President Tinubu to take note of the sinister moves by some of his appointees and call them to order.
“The President needs to prove to Nigerians that he is indeed a democrat. He needs to remind his men that if the Goodluck Jonathan administration were as intolerant and as subversive of the opposition, the APC would not have come to power in 2015 and he would not have been President today,” it said.
Several attempts to get the Presidency’s reaction were futile as of the time this report was filed, as calls and messages sent to its spokespersons were not attended to.
Mass Defection Hits Yobe PDP As Zonal Vice Chairman, Minister, Others Join ADC
The zonal vice chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Zone B, Alhaji Hassan Sherif, has formally resigned his membership of the party to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the state.
In a resignation letter addressed to the ward chairman of Bolewa B on July 7, 2025, which was made available to LEADERSHIP in Damaturu, he wrote: “I am writing to resign my membership with the PDP, effective immediately formally …after careful consideration, I believe it is time to pursue other opportunities and personal endeavours. I hope to maintain the relationships I have built during my time with the PDP and wish the party continued success in all its future efforts.”
LEADERSHIP gathered that those who joined the coalition included the former Minister of Police Affairs and PDP Board of Trustees member, Adamu Maina Waziri; Engr Abubakar Adamu Waziri, and the wife of the former Governor of Adamawa State, Dr Zainab Boni Haruna.
Others are Dr Mamu Muhammad, Dr Aji Kolomi, Dr Ilu Bello, Hon Lawan Mammadu Kori (former Potiskum Local Government PDP Chairman), Alh. Adamu Muhammed Rama, Idriss Muhammad Saleh, Dr Rabiu Soso, and Dr Barde Gadaka.
Credible sources confirmed to LEADERSHIP that more members of the opposition parties are joining the coalition in the nation’s interest, due to the poor leadership of the ruling party.
Ex-SGF Babachir Lawal Resigns From APC
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Lawal, who served as SGF in ex-President Muhammadu Buhari’s first term, announced his resignation from the APC in a letter dated 29 June 2025 and addressed to the chairman of APC in Bangshika Ward, Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
The letter partly read: “I write to formally notify you of my resignation from the All Progressives Congress.
“In due course, I will make my current political affiliations public, and I plan to join other compatriots in making Nigeria a better living place for all its citizens. This resignation takes immediate effect.”
Why I Chose ADC – Ex-Imo Governor
Former governor of Imo State, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, has revealed his reasons for joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC), saying the party represents the ideal platform for his political movement and followers.
Speaking at his Civic Centre residence while addressing Rebuild Imo Movement (RIM) leaders, Ihedioha said, “My party, your party, our party is now ADC. That is the way to go. That is the party for all of us.”
Chief Ihedioha urged his supporters to embrace the ADC as their new political home and identity and directed the RIM leaders to mobilise at the grassroots level to strengthen ADC across the state.
“I urge you, as leaders of our Rebuild Imo Movement (RIM), to go home to your respective chapters, wards, LGAs, and zones, and take this gospel to the grassroots, to the people. We are people-oriented. Our strength is the people, the masses,” he stated.
He highlighted the strong presence of RIM across the state, noting that their structure remains viable and effective.
“We already have representation in all the booths in the 305 wards in the state, and our structure across the 27 LGAs and three geopolitical zones is strong, viable, and functional. Just go home and invigorate our RIM structure, which is highly effective and superb.”
Ihedioha expressed gratitude to his loyalists and acknowledged their patience and support since leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in April last year. “I must thank all of you here, and those who are not here, for your steadfastness, support and patience,” he stated.
He also commended the RIM leadership at various levels, including women and youth leaders, for their dedication.
“Equally, on behalf of the state women leader, Lady Ijeoma Domike, I appreciate all our women. I also acknowledge our youths for their diligence and dedication. Together, we shall triumph and get to the promised land.”
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