Leadership Crisis Rocks Kogi ADC as Factions Suspend Each Other Amid Allegations

The Kogi State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has descended into a full-blown leadership crisis as rival factions within the party have taken the extraordinary step of suspending and expelling each other over accusations of anti-party activities, insubordination, and internal sabotage.

At the center of the controversy is a dramatic exchange between two opposing camps, each claiming to represent the legitimate leadership of the party in the state. The situation has thrown the party into disarray, threatening its stability just as Nigeria enters a critical political period ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Suspensions and Counter-Suspensions

The crisis erupted following a meeting held on Monday, August 4, 2025, by one faction of the State Working Committee (SWC), during which five prominent party members were suspended. Among them is Hon. Leke Abejide, the federal lawmaker representing Yagba Federal Constituency and notably, the only elected ADC representative currently holding public office in the country.

In a statement issued by the State Secretary of the faction, John Adaji, the party accused Abejide and four others—Dr. Idris Omede, Hon. Johnson Tayo, Lukman Usman Adedayo, and Olabode Kayode—of anti-party activities and insubordination. According to Adaji, the decision was unanimously endorsed by members of the SWC.

“Their suspension is effective immediately, and they are to appear before the National Working Committee next Monday at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja for further disciplinary action,” Adaji told reporters.

The statement also included a vote of confidence in the leadership of Hon. Kingsley Temitope Ogga, who was reaffirmed as the State Chairman of the party by this faction.

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Counterclaims and Factional Rebuttal

However, in a swift and strong reaction, another faction of the party led by Public Relations Officer Johnson Tayo dismissed the legitimacy of the meeting and the suspensions. Tayo accused Kingsley Ogga, who was purportedly reinstated as chairman by the opposing faction, of being an impostor whose membership in the ADC had long been revoked.

“Kingsley Ogga was expelled from the party in 2022, starting from his ward through to the local government level. That expulsion was ratified by the State Executive Committee and has never been reversed,” Tayo stated.

He described Ogga’s reemergence as party chairman as a “figment of his own imagination,” and emphasized that a person who has been lawfully expelled cannot act or speak on behalf of the party.

Tayo further reaffirmed the leadership of Hon. Leke Abejide as the de facto head of the ADC in Kogi State, citing his position as the only sitting ADC lawmaker in the country as proof of his political relevance and influence.

“As the only elected official under the ADC banner in Nigeria, Hon. Abejide remains the face and voice of the party in Kogi and beyond. Any attempt to undermine his leadership is tantamount to weakening the party’s only viable political base,” Tayo warned.

Dispute Over National Faction

The crisis has been exacerbated by divisions over allegiance to the national leadership of the party. The faction aligned with Tayo rejected the so-called ADC Coalition Movement spearheaded by former Senate President David Mark. Tayo claimed that the coalition lacks grassroots legitimacy and does not reflect the aspirations or decisions of ADC members in Kogi.

This schism raises concerns about the unity and direction of the party at both the state and national levels, as it remains unclear which faction is officially recognized by the ADC’s National Working Committee (NWC).

Implications for ADC in Kogi and Beyond

The ongoing conflict threatens to erode what little influence the ADC currently wields in Nigeria’s political landscape. For a party already grappling with limited representation and visibility, internal strife in one of its strongholds could prove detrimental.

Hon. Abejide’s suspension, in particular, could trigger a mass defection of supporters or a further fracturing of the party, considering his stature as the only elected ADC lawmaker and a key financier of the party in Kogi State.

Observers believe that the failure of the national leadership to swiftly intervene and resolve the dispute could allow the conflict to fester, leading to irreparable damage ahead of the next electoral cycle.

For now, all eyes are on the ADC’s national secretariat, which is expected to host a crucial disciplinary hearing next week. The outcome of that meeting may determine not only the fate of the suspended members but also the future of the ADC’s political relevance in Kogi State.