A faction of the African Democratic Congress led by its 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, has adopted him as its sole presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The adoption was announced on Sunday during the party’s National Convention held at A-Class in Abuja.
Chairman of the Electoral Committee and Benue State party chairman, Elias Adikwu, disclosed that delegates at the convention unanimously ratified Kachikwu’s emergence as the faction’s presidential flag bearer.
Following the announcement, the newly elected National Chairman of the faction, Abdulkadir Mohammed Bashir, presented the party’s flag to Kachikwu as a symbol of his mandate ahead of the 2027 presidential race.
The convention also produced a new National Working Committee (NWC) for the faction.
Among those elected were Kingsley Oggah as Board of Trustees Chairman, Johnny Tovie Derek as Deputy National Chairman, Kennedy O. Odion as National Secretary, Dr. Joe Aroh as National Treasurer, Chief Amirigoye as National Financial Secretary, Dr. Chris Ugwu as National Legal Adviser, Elias Adikwu as National Organising Secretary, and Patrick Ambut as National Chief Whip.
The development comes amid the ongoing leadership crisis within the ADC following the emergence of another faction led by former Senate President David Mark.
The Mark-led faction had earlier conducted its own national convention in Abuja on April 14, 2026, where delegates amended the party’s constitution and confirmed David Mark as substantive National Chairman of the party.
That convention reportedly attracted over 1,000 delegates and featured the participation of several opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, as part of a broader coalition seeking to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 elections.
The Mark-led faction had also expelled former factional chairman Nafiu Bala, alongside Rep. Leke Abejide and others, over allegations of anti-party activities and litigation against the party.
With Kachikwu now adopted by his faction, the ADC’s internal leadership battle appears set to deepen further ahead of the next general election.
What You Should Know
The African Democratic Congress has been battling internal divisions since after the 2023 elections, with rival factions laying claim to the party’s leadership and structure.
Dumebi Kachikwu, who flew the ADC presidential ticket in 2023, has remained influential within one bloc of the party, while another faction led by David Mark has attracted several opposition heavyweights seeking a united coalition against the APC ahead of 2027.
The parallel conventions and separate leadership structures now raise fresh legal and political questions over which faction will eventually control the party’s official recognition and electoral platform before the 2027 elections.
