JUST IN: ADC NEC Rejects David Mark, Bala Gombe Factions, Names Interim Leadership

The National Executives Committee, NEC of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have disowned the factions of the party led by former Senate President, David Mark, and Rabiu Bala Gombe, declaring them illegitimate.

Addressing journalists after a NEC meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday, the party’s Abia State Chairman, Don Norman Obinna, said the two factions failed to meet the constitutional requirements to lead the party.

Obinna stated that the NEC, which he said comprised chairmen from 20 states, expressed concern over what it described as interference by individuals lacking a proper understanding of the party’s internal affairs.

“We have watched with amusement how a few individuals, with no real understanding of the issues concerning the party, have acted with emotions devoid of reasoning and proper knowledge,” he said.

The NEC also declared its support for the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to derecognise the leadership claims of both the David Mark and Bala Gombe factions.

Providing further context, Obinna noted that the tenure of the former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, expired in August 2022, but he failed to step down, leading to a series of litigations.

According to him, a ruling delivered in December 2022 by Justice Binta Nyako affirmed that Nwosu’s tenure had indeed expired, rendering all actions taken by him and his National Working Committee null and void, as they were not endorsed by the NEC of the party.

“The tenure of Ralph Nwosu as National Chairman ended in August 2022. His refusal to step down led to several litigations. The court ruling in December confirmed that his tenure had expired and that any action taken thereafter was invalid,” Obinna said.

Following these developments, the NEC announced the appointment of an interim National Working Committee to oversee the affairs of the party pending the conduct of a national convention.

The committee named Ogga Temitope Kingsley, the Kogi State Chairman of the party, as Interim National Chairman, while Odion O. Kennedy from Edo State was appointed Interim National Secretary.

The interim committee, comprising eight members drawn from state chairmen, has been given a two-week mandate to manage the party’s affairs and ensure a smooth transition to a newly elected national leadership.