Fresh uncertainty has emerged within the African Democratic Congress following the announcement by a faction of the party that it has scheduled a separate national convention to elect members of the National Working Committee (NWC), a move that appears to contradict an earlier timetable released by another group within the party’s leadership structure.
The development has intensified concerns about internal divisions within the ADC as rival blocs appear to be advancing different timelines and processes for reorganizing the party’s leadership ahead of future political activities. Political observers say the dispute could have far-reaching implications for the party’s unity and its strategic positioning in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.
In a statement issued on Sunday, leaders of the faction disclosed that the election of new national officers would take place during a national convention scheduled to hold between April 3 and April 5. According to the group, the convention would serve as the final stage in a series of congresses that will be conducted at different levels of the party structure.
The faction further revealed that the process leading to the national convention would begin with ward congresses scheduled for March 19. These grassroots-level meetings are expected to take place in various communities across the country, where party members will gather to select local executives and representatives who will move forward to the next stages of the congress process.
Following the ward congresses, the faction announced that Local Government Area congresses will take place on March 24, bringing together delegates from different wards to elect officials responsible for coordinating party activities at the local government level. The congress process will then proceed to the state level, with state congresses scheduled for March 28.
According to the statement, the entire sequence of congresses is designed to culminate in the national convention where new members of the party’s National Working Committee will be elected to manage the affairs of the ADC at the national level.
DDM News gathered that the faction has proposed adopting a consensus approach in the selection of executives at all levels of the congress process. Under this method, candidates for leadership positions would emerge through agreement among party stakeholders rather than through contested voting processes.
Leaders of the faction argue that the consensus model would help reduce internal competition and foster unity within the party. They believe that encouraging cooperation among party leaders and members will strengthen internal cohesion and enable the ADC to present a more united front in national politics.
In their statement, the faction explained that the decision to adopt the consensus approach was taken in line with provisions of the party’s constitution as well as relevant sections of the Electoral Act 2026. According to them, the strategy reflects the party’s broader commitment to inclusiveness, collaboration, and collective leadership.
The statement further indicated that members of the party’s Board of Trustees and National Working Committee supporting the move believe that consensus-based leadership selection would promote mutual understanding among stakeholders while minimizing internal disputes that often arise from competitive party elections.
Beyond the congress timetable, the faction also announced the commencement of a nationwide membership registration exercise targeted at new members wishing to join the party. The exercise, according to the announcement, will run from March 14 to March 25.
Prospective members have been advised to visit their respective ward offices to complete registration procedures and obtain official membership cards. The registration process will be coordinated by the party’s Continuous Membership Registration Committee, which has been tasked with overseeing the enrolment of new members across the country.
Party officials clarified that the exercise is strictly intended for individuals who are newly joining the party. Existing members, they explained, are not required to renew or revalidate their membership during the current registration period.
DDM News understands that the faction also outlined procedures for addressing disputes that may arise during the congress process. According to the timetable, petitions or complaints resulting from the various congresses will be reviewed and resolved after the national convention, with the resolution process scheduled to take place between April 6 and April 10.
However, the announcement has generated additional controversy due to its criticism of another membership mobilisation exercise currently being conducted by a coalition linked to the party. The faction claimed that the ongoing electronic membership registration and revalidation initiative does not comply with the procedures established in the ADC constitution.
In the statement, the group described the electronic registration exercise as illegitimate and warned members to disregard it. They argued that the process was not authorized through the proper party channels and therefore cannot be considered valid.
The faction also disclosed that an official online membership registration portal will eventually be launched through the party’s authorized communication platforms. Until that happens, members have been advised to rely only on the physical registration procedures conducted at ward offices.
The statement announcing the faction’s decisions was jointly signed by Nafi’u Bala, who identified himself as the factional national chairman, and Rufus Ikanmi, the secretary of the party’s Board of Trustees.
The emergence of the competing timetable has drawn further attention because another bloc within the party recently announced a different date for its own national convention. That coalition, which is reportedly associated with prominent political figure David Mark, had earlier fixed April 14 as the date for electing national officers of the party.
The existence of two separate timetables has raised questions about which process will ultimately be recognized as legitimate by party members and Nigeria’s electoral authorities. Political analysts warn that such internal disagreements could complicate the party’s efforts to present a unified political platform.
Observers say that disputes over leadership structures and congress schedules are not uncommon within Nigerian political parties, especially during periods of organizational restructuring or coalition building. However, prolonged internal divisions can weaken party cohesion and undermine public confidence.
For the African Democratic Congress, which has been positioning itself as a platform for political reform and coalition politics in Nigeria, maintaining unity among its leaders and members will be crucial as the country gradually moves toward future electoral cycles.
As the rival congress timetables approach, party members across Nigeria are watching closely to see whether the different factions will reconcile their positions or whether the party will move forward with parallel conventions.
The coming weeks are therefore expected to play a decisive role in determining the direction of the ADC and the leadership structure that will eventually emerge to guide the party’s activities in the years ahead.
