The David Mark-led African Democratic Congress held a combative national convention in Abuja on Tuesday, expelling its rival faction chairman and a sitting lawmaker while opposition heavyweights used the platform to launch a blistering assault on President Bola Tinubu’s government — describing his flagship agenda as a fraud and calling for his resignation.
The convention, which drew over 3,000 participants and was themed “So That Nigeria May Work,” saw the ADC announce the expulsion of factional chairman Nafiu Bala, House of Representatives member Leke Abejide who represents Yagba Federal Constituency in Kogi State, alongside Kingsley Temitope, Noman Obinna, Kennedy Odion, Stella Chukwuma, and four others over alleged anti-party activities.
Expulsions and the Motion That Sealed Them
The decision was taken at the convention in Abuja, where delegates approved a motion for the immediate expulsion of the affected members. Senator Binos Yaroe, who represents Adamawa South, moved the motion on the floor of the convention, which was promptly seconded and adopted by delegates in attendance.
The party’s Organising Secretary Chinedu Idigo, addressing delegates, accused the expelled members of sowing division across the party’s structures. “They have sown seeds of discord within the party and sought to create factions, doubts, and confusion across the polity, the public, and regulatory authorities, thereby causing instability within the party,” he said.
Nafiu Bala had previously led a protest to the INEC headquarters alongside Abejide, where they called on Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Kwankwaso, and David Mark to stay away from the ADC, alleging attempts to hijack the party’s structure. (Blueprint Newspapers Limited)
Aregbesola: “Renewed Hope Is a Scam”
ADC National Secretary and former Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola delivered a withering verdict on the Tinubu administration, describing its flagship Renewed Hope Agenda as “a classic scam” and calling on the president to resign over worsening insecurity and economic hardship.
“When exactly will this hope come to fruition? The answer is simple. It is a scam. The answer is what? A scam! If allowed, this regime will continue shouting renewed hope into eternity,” he declared.
Aregbesola also criticised the state of power supply across the country, pointing out that the administration had promised Nigerians constant electricity but had delivered the opposite. “Today, power supply is far worse, with some parts of the country receiving an average of two hours daily. Some other parts also receive an average of two hours daily, while others have been in darkness for weeks and months. Ordinarily, having made such a promise and performed woefully, an honest president should simply step down and not seek re-election,” he said.
Peter Obi: “I Would Declare War”
Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi made his most forceful statement yet on insecurity, saying: “No nation would lose about 10 of its senior officers and not declare war. I would declare war,” referencing the growing list of military officers killed in the Northeast insurgency.
Obi also challenged the government on its economic management, questioning what happened to revenues from subsidy removal and massive borrowing. “When Buhari came in, our borrowing was about 13 trillion. When he left, it was 87 trillion. Today, we’re hitting 200 trillion without anything to show for it. Subsidies removed — both in petroleum and power — and yet we’ve borrowed more. Where is the money going?” he asked.
Convention Held Despite Venue Sabotage Claims
The convention was eventually held at the Rainbow Event Centre in Garki, Abuja, with the party’s Organising Secretary alleging that several private venue owners declined to host the ADC after being subjected to what he described as external pressures and threats. “We wrote to use the Eagle Square but received no response, and our request for the Velodrome was also denied without explanation,” he said.
Former Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke, who chaired the convention planning committee, acknowledged the obstacles but described the gathering as a show of resolve. “We are all seeing the direction our country is going. We have seen extreme insecurity and a shrinking democratic space. Even last night, they made efforts to pressure the owner of this event hall to cancel our reservation,” he said.
The ADC was adopted as a coalition platform in July 2025 to unite opposition forces to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
