A faction of the African Democratic Congress loyal to Dumebi Kachikwu on Sunday dissolved the party’s National Working Committee and declared him its presidential candidate.
The decision was taken at the faction’s national convention and presidential primary held in Abuja, where delegates adopted Kachikwu through a voice vote.
The faction also dissolved the existing NWC and immediately replaced it with a new set of national officers.
The new executives include Kingsley Oggah as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Abdulkadir Bashir as National Chairman, Johnny Derek as National Secretary, Kennedy O. Odion as National Treasurer, Chief Amirigoye as National Financial Secretary, as well as a National Publicity Secretary and National Legal Adviser, Dr Chris Ugwu.
Speaking after receiving the party’s flag, Kachikwu said Nigeria was at a critical stage and needed strong leadership to address insecurity, unemployment, economic hardship and division.
He said the country was experiencing worsening social and economic conditions, noting that many Nigerians were leaving the country in search of better opportunities.
According to him, the ADC must position itself as a credible alternative and restore hope to citizens.
“The mass exodus of our middle class is indicative of those who have chosen not to be part of this hardship anymore,” he said.
He added that Nigeria belongs to all citizens and must not be controlled by a few privileged interests.
Earlier, the Chairman of ADC State Chairmen, Kingsley Oggah, described the convention as a defining moment for the party, saying it had shown resilience despite internal challenges.
He said members remained committed to the party’s survival despite pressure and disagreements.
Also speaking, the newly elected National Chairman, Abdulkadir Bashir, urged members to respect the party’s constitution and avoid actions capable of deepening divisions.
He said no individual was bigger than the party and called for unity ahead of future elections.
Bashir also appealed to aggrieved members to return to the party and work together to strengthen its structures.
The David Mark faction of the African Democratic Congress emerged from the political realignments ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The faction is led by a former Senate President and longtime member of the Peoples Democratic Party, who joined the ADC in 2025 as part of a broader opposition coalition seeking to challenge the ruling APC.
In July 2025, ADC founder and former national chairman, Ralph Nwosu, stepped down alongside members of the party’s National Working Committee and endorsed Mark as interim national chairman.