The Concerned State Chairmen of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have rejected the party’s new national leadership headed by former Senate President David Mark, describing the development as an “orchestrated political coup” by an opposition coalition.
Mark was recently named Interim National Chairman of the ADC, while former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola was appointed Interim National Secretary, following the adoption of the party as the official platform for an opposition alliance aimed at unseating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
The coalition also includes former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who recently resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the ADC.
In a joint statement titled “Rejecting the Political Junta by Defending ADC and Nigeria’s Democracy Against Subversion”, signed by Amb. Elias Adokwu (Chairman) and Godwin Alaku (Publicity Secretary), the chairmen accused the coalition of attempting an “unconstitutional hijack” of the party through manipulation and backroom deals.
“We unequivocally condemn in the strongest terms this desperate power grab, which represents not only an aberration of democratic norms but also a grave assault on our collective political values as a nation,” the statement read.
The chairmen likened the move to a “civilian junta”, warning that it was not a genuine ideological realignment but an effort by political opportunists to seize control. They also cited a past warning from one of the coalition leaders — “If peaceful change is not possible, violent change is inevitable” — as a reminder of dangerous political brinkmanship.
‘ADC is Not for Sale’
Declaring that “the ADC is not for sale, not for hijack, and certainly not a dumping ground for discredited power brokers”, the state chairmen challenged the coalition leaders to form their own party rather than take over an existing one.
They called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise what they described as an illegal change in leadership and urged civil society groups and Nigerians to resist any attempt to undermine democratic order.
“We, the legitimate custodians of the ADC structure across all states of the federation, reject this illegitimate junta. We consider it our patriotic duty to defend the soul of the ADC and protect the sanctity of democratic structures in Nigeria,” the statement concluded.
The chairmen also dismissed allegations made by former ADC National Chairman Ralph Nwosu, describing them as a “desperate attempt to salvage his political reputation.”
