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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

Kogi lawmaker dumps ADC

From The Punch · (6m ago) English Critical tone

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Leke Abejide, a member of the House of Representatives, resigned from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) due to prolonged internal crises and leadership uncertainty.
  • Abejide cited a lawsuit he filed in 2025 against key ADC leaders as a catalyst for the party's internal strife and delays in proceedings.
  • The lawmaker's departure is seen as a move to safeguard his political future, with expectations he will join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The political landscape in Nigeria is often characterized by shifting alliances and internal party struggles, and the recent resignation of Leke Abejide from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is a prime example. Abejide, representing the Yagba East/Yagba West/Mopamuro Federal Constituency in Kogi State, has officially exited the ADC, citing a 'prolonged internal crisis, legal disputes, and leadership uncertainty' as the primary reasons. This move, while described as 'painful,' is deemed 'necessary to save my political future' by the lawmaker.

It is a painful decision, but necessary to save my political future from those who came to destroy my former political party that I laboured hard to nurture and loved dearly.

— Leke AbejideExplaining his resignation from the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Abejde's decision appears to stem from a protracted legal battle he initiated in August 2025 against prominent ADC figures, including Senator David Mark and former Governor Rauf Aregbesola. He alleges that the defendants deliberately stalled court proceedings, preventing a timely adjudication of the case. This delay, he claims, occurred during a critical period leading up to primary elections, forcing him to seek an alternative platform for his political ambitions.

Around August, 2025, I took the leaders of ADC coalition in the persons of Senator David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, Chief Ralph Nwosu, and ADC as a party to Court.

— Leke AbejideDetailing the lawsuit that contributed to the internal crisis within the ADC.

While Abejide has not formally announced his next political destination, speculation is rife that he is poised to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). His departure highlights the internal challenges within the ADC and underscores the pragmatic approach many Nigerian politicians take, prioritizing their electoral prospects amidst party instability. The situation serves as a stark reminder of the fluid nature of political party loyalty in Nigeria, where personal ambition and strategic maneuvering often dictate party affiliations.

The defendants- David Mark and others kept sending different people to join my case as a way to delay the matter from being adjudicated upon by the judge up to the time the Independent National Electoral Commission rolled out the timetable for political activities, for primaries elections and general elections in 2027.

— Leke AbejideAccusing other parties in the lawsuit of deliberately stalling proceedings.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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