𝐀𝐃𝐂 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐊𝐨𝐠𝐢 𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐛𝐞𝐣𝐢𝐝𝐞

The Nafiu Bala-led faction of the African Democratic Congress has dismissed the expulsion of Yagba Federal Constituency lawmaker, Leke Abejide, describing the decision as illegitimate and politically motivated.

The faction accused a group of “self-appointed” actors within the ADC of attempting to hijack the party’s structures ahead of its planned national convention. Bala maintains he is the authentic chairman of the party and has refused to recognise the David Mark-led national leadership endorsed by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Their reaction came barely 24 hours after the ADC National Working Committee ratified Abejide’s expulsion, following recommendations from the Kogi State chapter.

In a Friday statement issued in Abuja, the ADC factional Director of Media and Public Affairs, Christopher Okechukwu, said the move to expel the two-term federal lawmaker was a “desperate and illegal attempt” by individuals acting contrary to the party’s core values and democratic principles.

He accused the opposing group of lacking genuine commitment to the ADC’s growth, alleging that their interference was aimed at marginalising loyal party members and seizing control of the party for personal benefit.

Okechukwu said, “We strongly condemn the attempts by unregistered, self-appointed members of the NWC to illegitimately interfere in party affairs and remove an elected ADC representative in the 10th National Assembly. We reject the expulsion of Hon. Leke Abejide as illegitimate and unacceptable.”

According to him, Abejide was targeted solely for supporting the existing party leadership and backing an ongoing court case challenging INEC’s recognition of the David Mark-led leadership.

He further asserted that the NWC aligned with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, “lacks the locus standi” to discipline any valid member of the party, vowing that the faction would resist all attempts to hijack party institutions ahead of upcoming congresses.

However, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, announced on Thursday that the NWC had ratified Abejide’s expulsion over alleged “serial acts of indiscipline,” affirming sanctions earlier imposed by the Kogi State chapter. The leadership also urged Speaker Abbas Tajudeen to declare Abejide’s House of Representatives seat vacant.