ABUJA, Nigeria — A faction of the African Democratic Congress aligned with the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, has adopted him as its sole presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, deepening the leadership crisis within the opposition party.
Kachikwu was adopted at the faction’s national convention held on Sunday at A-Class Event Centre in Abuja. The Electoral Committee Chairman and Benue State ADC chairman, Elias Adikwu, announced his adoption, which was later ratified by delegates at the convention.
The faction’s newly elected national chairman, Alhaji Abdulkadir Mohammed Bashir, presented Kachikwu with the party’s flag, describing it as a symbol of his mandate to lead the ADC into the 2027 presidential contest. The convention also produced a new National Working Committee, which the faction said would take charge of the party’s affairs.
Among those announced as members of the new leadership were Kingsley Oggah as Board of Trustees chairman, Johnny Tovie Derek as deputy national chairman, Kennedy Odion as national secretary, Dr. Joe Aroh as national treasurer and Dr. Chris Ugwu as national legal adviser. Adikwu was also named national organising secretary, while Patrick Ambut emerged as national chief whip.
The development comes weeks after a rival ADC faction led by former Senate President David Mark held its own national convention in Abuja on April 14, 2026. At that convention, delegates amended the party’s constitution and confirmed Mark as substantive national chairman, despite disputes over legitimacy, litigation and venue controversies.
The Mark-led group also expelled factional chairman Nafiu Bala, House of Representatives member Leke Abejide and others over alleged anti-party activities, including taking internal disputes to court. That convention drew several major opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, as part of a wider coalition effort aimed at challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2027.
The Kachikwu-aligned faction, however, rejected the legitimacy of the Mark-led leadership and announced the dissolution of its National Working Committee. Premium Times reported that the faction said it had constituted a new NWC and adopted Kachikwu as its presidential candidate.
Kachikwu’s emergence sets up a likely recognition battle ahead of the 2027 elections. Under Nigeria’s electoral process, only candidates submitted by the leadership recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission can appear on the ballot.
The ADC’s internal crisis could weaken its prospects unless resolved quickly. While rival factions are claiming authority, the party faces the larger challenge of presenting a united platform capable of attracting voters and coalition partners before the next general election.
