ADC Kachikwu Faction Holds Convention, Positions for 2027

ABUJA — The African Democratic Congress faction led by Dumebi Kachikwu held its national convention in Abuja on Monday morning. The convention was convened to formalise the faction’s structure, ratify its leadership, and position the party for the 2027 general elections.

Kachikwu, who ran for president under the ADC in 2023, addressed delegates at the convention. He said his faction represents the authentic and democratically grounded ADC, in contrast to what he described as the faction that has been used to accommodate heavyweight political figures from other parties.

The ADC has been deeply divided since a wave of high-profile defectors from the PDP and other parties, including Atiku Abubakar and Rotimi Amaechi, joined the party. Kachikwu and his supporters argue that the influx of these figures has diluted the party’s original identity and mission.

“The ADC was built on principles, not on accommodating political refugees. We are here to offer Nigerians a genuine alternative, not to be a waiting room for politicians who have exhausted their options elsewhere,” Kachikwu said at the convention.

Two ADCs, One INEC Problem

The split within the ADC creates a significant legal and electoral challenge. INEC recognises only one leadership structure per party. With two factions both claiming to control the ADC, the commission must determine which group is the legitimate representative of the party.

Courts have previously been called to adjudicate similar party disputes. The Supreme Court’s ruling on which PDP faction is legitimate is still pending. Legal experts say the ADC dispute may follow a similar path through the judicial system before any resolution is reached.

Furthermore, the ADC’s presidential primary, which was supposed to take place this week, remains uncertain given the factional split. INEC has not yet publicly indicated which ADC faction it will engage with for the purpose of the May 30 primary deadline.

Kachikwu’s Presidential Ambition

Kachikwu used the convention to reaffirm his own presidential ambitions for 2027. He said he is the right candidate to lead a genuinely reformed and independent opposition party into a competitive 2027 race.

His declaration adds another name to an already crowded field of presidential aspirants. With Tinubu now formally the APC candidate, the opposition landscape includes Atiku, Amaechi, Obi, Kwankwaso, Makinde, Adebayo, and others all seeking their respective platforms.

Political analysts say the ADC’s factional crisis, combined with the broader opposition fragmentation, significantly improves Tinubu’s prospects for a second term. A united opposition could present a credible challenge. The current state of affairs makes that unity seem increasingly unlikely before the 2027 election.