A prominent figure in the African Democratic Congress
(ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress
(APC) is attempting to weaken the party’s coalition efforts in order to avoid
political rivalry in the 2027 elections.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s
Sunrise Daily, Okonkwo claimed that certain individuals were being used to
destabilize the ADC from within. According to him, the moves are part of a
broader strategy to prevent credible opposition to President Bola Tinubu.
He further criticised what he described as attempts to
pressure the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging that
some actors were misrepresenting court proceedings to create confusion about
the party’s leadership.
Dispute Over INEC Recognition
Okonkwo explained that the ADC leadership structure
was formally acknowledged after a lengthy process overseen by former INEC
chairman, Mahmood Yakubu. He noted that the recognition followed about 18
months of consultations and thorough evaluation.
He argued that if there had been any irregularities
during the process, the former chairman would not have endorsed the leadership.
Meanwhile, the APC has not issued any official
response to the allegations.
Factional Crisis Deepens
The controversy follows tensions within the party, as
a factional leader, Nafiu Gombe, threatened legal action against INEC Chairman,
Joash Amupitan, over the recognition of another faction led by David Mark.
Gombe insists that a Court of Appeal ruling delivered
on March 12, 2026, preserved the existing leadership structure pending a final
decision from the Federal High Court. He accused INEC of disregarding the
ruling by engaging with Mark’s group and demanded that the commission reverse
its actions or face legal consequences.
In response, Okonkwo dismissed Gombe’s claims,
describing them as baseless. He maintained that Gombe had already resigned from
the party in May 2025, stepping down to support the coalition’s restructuring
efforts.
ADC Coalition Targets 2027
The ADC is positioning itself as a major opposition
force ahead of the 2027 general elections, bringing together several
influential political figures from across different parties.
Notable members of the coalition include Atiku
Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Nasir El-Rufai, and Rotimi Amaechi.
The coalition, which also includes Rauf Aregbesola and
David Mark in interim leadership roles, was officially unveiled in July 2025,
although the ADC has been in existence since 2005.
More recently, Kwankwaso formally joined the alliance
in March 2026, bringing along his Kwankwasiyya political movement.
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