Following the recent Federal High Court judgment on the leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC), aggrieved state chairmen of the party have declared that they remain open to reconciliation and peaceful resolution, insisting that their fight is not against the party but against what they described as violations of due process and internal democracy.
The chairmen made this position known during a special Zoom programme titled “Federal High Court Judgement: Interview with the ADC State Chairmen,” hosted by COPDEM Media TV, where they addressed growing concerns over the future of the party and the possibility of restoring unity.
Leading the discussion was Chief Obah Clement, the FCT ADC Chairman, who spoke on behalf of the state chairmen alongside representatives from Ekiti State and several other states. He emphasized that the chairmen are not interested in destroying the party but in ensuring that justice, fairness, and constitutional order are respected within the ADC.
According to him, the Federal High Court judgment has further strengthened their position that due process must be followed in party affairs, especially concerning congresses, conventions, and leadership transitions. He noted that while the legal process has provided some clarity, political reconciliation remains the best path to sustainable peace.
Chief Obah stressed that the window for discussion is still open and urged the national leadership of the ADC to embrace dialogue rather than confrontation. He said the state chairmen expect the leadership to grant them a fair hearing and create room for honest engagement that can help rebuild trust and move the party forward.
He warned, however, that there are fears among the aggrieved chairmen that the national leadership may remain adamant and unwilling to make necessary compromises. Such an attitude, he said, could destroy the reconciliatory efforts currently being championed by COPDEM and deepen the already fragile divisions within the party.
The chairmen were also quick to dismiss widespread allegations that they were being sponsored by hidden political interests to destabilize the party. They described such claims as false, politically motivated, and intended to discredit their genuine struggle for internal justice.
They stated clearly that no politician, godfather, or external force is funding their activities. Instead, they revealed that they personally contributed money from their own pockets to pursue the legal battle and sustain the movement for reforms within the party.
According to them, their mission is driven by the desire for a “New Nigeria,” where political parties operate on the principles of transparency, accountability, and respect for constitutional procedures.
On the issue of former ADC presidential candidate Dumebi Kachikwu, the chairmen strongly denied reports that he was sponsoring their legal and political actions. They clarified that Dumebi Kachikwu merely offered his media platform at the early stage of the dispute to allow them present their grievances to the public.
They explained that while his platform gave them visibility and an opportunity to be heard, he did not provide financial backing or direct them to fight anyone within the party.
The group also addressed speculations linking them to Nafiu Bala Gombe and rumors that they were being sponsored to support him as interim national chairman of the ADC.
They rejected the claim outright, describing it as baseless and misleading. According to the chairmen, Bala Gombe is neither their preferred candidate nor someone they would support for such a strategic leadership role.
In strong terms, they described him as incompetent and stated that he has no legal relevance in the ongoing court matter, adding that he cannot be their option under any circumstance.
The state chairmen concluded by reiterating that their struggle is not personal and not about power for its own sake, but about defending the integrity of the party and ensuring that the ADC remains a credible platform for genuine opposition politics in Nigeria.
They called on all stakeholders to put the future of the party above personal interests and allow sincere reconciliation efforts to succeed before the crisis causes irreversible damage to the ADC’s national structure.
