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ADC Rift Deepens as Party Leaders Disown Abuja Convention, Describes It As “Suya Convention”
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…Gombe faction alleges legal breaches and forged processes
…Abejide signals possible defection ahead of next election
By Gloria Ikibah
The internal crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has escalated, with a key faction of the party rejecting the outcome of a recent convention held in Abuja and describing it as unlawful.
Factional National Chairman, Nafiu Gombe, alongside senior party figure and lawmaker, Leke Abejide, dismissed the gathering organised by a coalition group, arguing that it breached existing court rulings and undermined due process.
At a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, the group maintained that the convention, held on 14 April, 2026, failed to meet legal requirements and was conducted in disregard of binding judicial decisions.
They pointed to a Court of Appeal ruling delivered in March 2026, which they said remains in force, insisting that any resolutions from the disputed convention could ultimately be overturned by the courts.
The faction also raised concerns over the absence of the electoral commission at the event, suggesting this further weakened its legitimacy and cast doubt on its recognition under the law.
Tensions within the party appear to be deepening, with Abejide indicating he may explore alternative political platforms ahead of the next election cycle, a move that could further reshape the party’s internal dynamics.
Gombe said: “Any action taken in flagrant disregard of the Court of Appeal’s judgment is not only of questionable legality but is liable to be declared null and void,” he said.
The chairman maintained that those behind the convention were not recognised members of the ADC and therefore lacked the legal authority to convene a national convention or take binding decisions on behalf of the party.
“As far as the duly constituted leadership of the party is concerned, the coalition group are not members of ADC and consequently lack the locus standi to convene any congress or convention,” he stated.
He added that the actions of the group were not surprising, alleging a pattern of disregard for due process and violation of the party’s constitution.
Gombe also raised concerns over what he described as a contradiction in the coalition’s actions, as he said while the convention was ongoing, their legal representatives were simultaneously seeking validation for the same exercise before the Supreme Court.
“This underscores the illegitimacy of the entire process,” he said.
In a dramatic development, the factional chairman of the party indicated that the situation has escalated beyond internal disputes, raising serious concerns over alleged criminal actions, including the use of falsified documents purportedly carrying his signature.
“This matter is not an internal party affair. It involves a breach of the ADC constitution and infringement of my rights as a bona fide member. It has now escalated to a criminal dimension with the preparation of false documents bearing my forged signature,” he alleged.
He also criticised attempts by some political actors, including associates of former Senate President David Mark, to rely on provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 to shield their actions from judicial scrutiny.
According to him, Section 83(5) of the Act does not preclude the courts from intervening in cases where party constitutions are breached or members’ rights are violated.
Also speaking, Abejide described the Abuja gathering as a “Suya Convention” an “unlawful assembly” and an “affront to the judiciary,” accusing the organisers of deliberately disobeying court orders from both the Federal High Court and the Supreme Court.
He debunked claims that himself and the factional chairman, Gombe had been suspended by the opposing faction, describing such actions as baseless and lacking legal effect.
“It is not a convention but an illegal assembly. This attitude is treasonable and a direct affront against the judiciary.
“The purported suspension is a laughable phenomenon from an illegal group of people who came to destroy the ADC the same way they destabilised other parties they left,” Abejide stated.
Leaders of the faction also criticised members of the coalition, describing them as habitual defectors whose frequent movement between political parties has contributed to instability within the ADC.
Abejide, who represents Yagba Federal Constituency, defended his standing in the party, pointing out that he has remained with the ADC since 2017 and has been instrumental in strengthening its structure, particularly in Kogi State.
He highlighted the party’s growth in the state, noting that it expanded from a single seat in 2019 to securing several legislative positions by 2023, a development he linked to sustained grassroots engagement and steady leadership.
“I am not a political merchant moving from one party to another. I have remained in ADC and helped build it into a recognised platform,” he said.
The factional leadership revealed that it has briefed lawyers to challenge what it described as illegal suspensions and other actions taken by the opposing group, citing the legal principle of lis pendens, which restricts actions on matters already before the court.
They further cautioned that continued disregard for court orders and internal instability could jeopardise the party’s ability to field candidates in future elections.
“If ADC is unable to field candidates at the end of this crisis, the coalition group should be held responsible,” Abejide stated.
The factional leadership group dismissed claims by other factions within the party, insisting that those parading themselves as alternative leadership structures are either aligned with the same coalition or lack any constitutional backing.
Responding to questions on a separate faction that had also distanced itself from the Balagubu-led leadership, the chairman said such groups have no legal standing, alleging that many of their members had previously resigned their positions under questionable circumstances.
He further accused the coalition of recruiting politicians with a history of defection across multiple parties, arguing that their involvement has destabilised the ADC.
“These are individuals who have moved from one political party to another. Their track record shows a pattern of political inconsistency and opportunism,” he said.
The faction also rejected reports that some of its leaders had been suspended by the opposing group, describing the move as baseless and legally untenable.
They argued that any disciplinary action taken by what they termed an “illegal assembly” cannot stand, especially while related matters are before the courts.
“The purported suspensions are laughable. You cannot suspend someone from a structure that has no legal existence,” he said.
Responding to questions on whether he will seek reelection on the platform of ADC in 2027, Abejide said there would be the possibility of political realignments if the crisis persists, noting that politicians may be forced to seek alternative platforms.
” If this matter is not resolved within the next two weeks, any aspirant contesting under this platform risks their political future”, he stated.
The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has slammed President Bola Tinubu over his legal bid to prevent the release of records held by United States law enforcement agencies concerning past investigations involving him.
Obi, who described the development as “profoundly embarrassing,” argued that a sitting president should have the courage to confront questions surrounding his past rather than seek to shield such records from public scrutiny.
In a statement issued on Monday while reflecting on the state of the country, the former governor of Anambra state said his loyalty to Nigeria remained unwavering, adding that he had never sought citizenship of another country despite opportunities to do so.
He said he was saddened by the direction Nigeria was taking, particularly the example being set by those occupying positions of authority.
“It is profoundly embarrassing that we have reached a point where a sitting President is asking a foreign court to withhold records concerning his past, particularly records relating to matters of legitimate public interest,” Obi said.
According to him, leadership requires “courage and humility” to confront one’s history, acknowledge mistakes, explain controversial issues and apologise where necessary.
Obi noted that questions concerning a leader’s educational background, particularly foundational schooling at the primary and secondary levels, should not remain unresolved or be addressed mainly through legal proceedings.
“Nigerians deserve clear, credible, and verifiable explanations, especially when such had been submitted in the past,” he said.
The former governor said the issue was particularly significant because of the example it could set for millions of young Nigerians in schools.
He maintained that the Presidency should represent integrity, accountability, transparency and ethical leadership, insisting that an imperfect past should not necessarily define an individual if the person is willing to confront it honestly.
Obi’s comments followed recent legal proceedings in the United States in which Tinubu asked a federal court to reject efforts by transparency activist Aaron Greenspan to obtain records relating to past investigations involving the Nigerian leader.
Greenspan had instituted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) case before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, seeking records from the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Among the records sought are the FBI’s complete file on Tinubu, including Form 302 interview records relating to the period between 1992 and 1993.
The case also involves records allegedly connected to a 1993 civil forfeiture proceeding in the U.S. concerning approximately $460,000 linked to Tinubu.
Tinubu’s legal team, comprising Christopher W. Carmichael, Victor P. Henderson and Oluwole O. Afolabi, filed a 16-page submission urging the court to protect their client’s privacy interests.
The lawyers argued that the existence of information previously disclosed in connection with the forfeiture proceedings did not amount to a public disclosure of the contents or outcome of any possible criminal investigation.Geographic Reference
They further maintained that an individual’s privacy interest in government investigative files could remain intact even where portions of such information had previously entered the public domain.
Tinubu’s lawyers urged the court to reject Greenspan’s motion for summary judgment and uphold the FBI and DEA’s withholding of the requested materials under applicable U.S. privacy and transparency law.
Reacting to the broader implications, Obi asked Nigeria’s political class to recognise that political ambitions are temporary, while the country and the values established by its leaders endure.
“When will our political class fully appreciate that individual ambitions are temporary, while the nation endures?” he asked.
“The Presidency is an office held for a season; the moral standards established by those who occupy it can influence generations.
“Nigeria is greater than any one person, and the integrity of the Republic must always come before the interests of the individual,” he added.
A 24-year-old pilot allegedly stole a plane while drunk and flew towards a nuclear power plant in Hungary, triggering a major emergency response before the aircraft crashed in a sunflower field.
The worrying flight path of the Cessna 172 entered the no-fly zone around Hungary’s largest nuclear power plant and triggered an alert on military radar.
Hungarian air force officials quickly mobilised a task force, with several fighter jets sent to intercept the aircraft.
The mid-air operation lasted only a few minutes before the pilot unexpectedly crash-landed in a sunflower field around four miles from the plant. Aerial footage showed a flattened trail through the sunflowers where the aircraft had bulldozed its way across the field.
The pilot was uninjured, but the Cessna 172 was left badly damaged after the crash. Police allege that the aircraft had been stolen from Kalocsa Airport. Following the emergency landing, the suspect allegedly attempted to flee the scene on foot, heading along a nearby road.
He was then spotted “in a distressed state” by a passing driver.
Police said the man attempted to take over the driver’s car, forcing the motorist to fight him off.
Officers said the allegedly intoxicated pilot “was stopped in time” before he could take control of the vehicle.
Police arrested the man at the scene and took him in for questioning.
Officers said testing would establish whether he had been under the influence of alcohol or other substances at the time of the incident.
The nuclear power plant, which supplies around 50 per cent of Hungary’s electricity, was not damaged during the incident.
Police are now investigating how the man allegedly managed to steal the aircraft and take off without being stopped.
The incident has also raised questions over how the aircraft was able to enter the restricted airspace around the nuclear facility before military authorities responded. It is not the first time an allegedly intoxicated pilot has been arrested.
Earlier this month, an allegedly intoxicated pilot was escorted from a plane by police just minutes before takeoff in Georgia, US.
David Allsop, 52, was removed from his flight in front of stunned passengers and subsequently had his pilot’s licence revoked. After being questioned by police, Allsop reportedly admitted that he had drunk “a few beers” the night before. He then suggested that the smell officers noticed had come from his nicotine gum.
A huge floating island covered in trees mysteriously appeared in a Canadian reservoir before vanishing just weeks later, leaving officials unsure where the bizarre landmass has gone.
The strange sighting occurred at British Columbia’s Williston Reservoir, where boaters spotted what appeared to be a fully formed island drifting through the water. The floating mass was enormous, measuring roughly the equivalent of two NFL football fields.
Satellite imagery taken on July 21 confirmed that the unusual landmass was real and showed it floating about 60 miles west of the W.A.C.
Bennett Dam. But by August 5, the island had disappeared from satellite images.
The utility responsible for managing the reservoir has yet to determine exactly what happened to it.
A spokesperson told CBC that the island may not have sunk at all, suggesting it could have drifted back towards the shoreline or moved into a more sheltered section of the vast reservoir. Officials believe unusually high water levels may have helped tear the island away from the shoreline, after which strong winds could have carried it across the reservoir.
The mysterious disappearance has left the possibility that the huge mass of vegetation is still somewhere on the reservoir, hidden from view. For now, officials have no confirmed explanation for exactly where the floating island ended up meaning the vast reservoir may still be home to a runaway island.
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