Fresh details have emerged on the internal crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC), with disagreements over the mode of primaries, ongoing legal battles, and leadership tensions combining to stall progress within the party.
At the centre of the dispute is a growing divide over how the party should select its presidential candidate. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is being accused by some stakeholders of resisting direct primaries, while Peter Obi is said to be pushing for an open, direct primary system that allows broader participation of party members. The disagreement has reportedly heightened mistrust among key blocs and contributed significantly to the current gridlock.
Party insiders say the lack of consensus on this critical issue has slowed decision-making and deepened factional alignments, with each camp wary of processes that may disadvantage their political interests.
Compounding the crisis are multiple court cases affecting the party’s leadership structure and legitimacy. Legal disputes—ranging from challenges to the National Working Committee (NWC) to questions surrounding recent party conventions—have created uncertainty, limiting the ability of the leadership to take decisive steps.
The leadership of the party under former Senate President David Mark has also come under scrutiny, particularly over alleged reluctance to fully integrate legacy state chairmen into the current structure. This has fueled grievances among long-standing party officials who feel sidelined in the evolving power dynamics.
Observers warn that unless these issues are urgently addressed—especially the mode of primaries, reconciliation with aggrieved stakeholders, and resolution of legal disputes—the ADC risks further fragmentation at a critical time in Nigeria’s political cycle.
Efforts at internal dialogue are said to be ongoing, but with positions hardening across camps, the path to unity remains uncertain.
