A faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led Nafiu Gombe, has declared that the recently concluded national convention of the party held by a coalition faction was illegal, as it violated subsisting court orders.
Gombe, while addressing a world press conference on Friday in Abuja, alongside National Leader and lawmaker, Leke Abejide, accused the organisers of the April 14, 2026, convention of undermining the rule of law, insisting that the exercise was conducted in defiance of binding judgments of the courts.
Gombe said the convention contravened a valid ruling of the Court of Appeal delivered on March 12, 2026, warning that any outcome from the gathering is liable to be nullified by the Federal High Court.
“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.
He further pointed to the absence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the convention as evidence that the exercise lacked official recognition and could not withstand judicial scrutiny.
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.
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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.
In a significant twist, the ADC chairman said the crisis has moved beyond internal party disagreements, revealing allegations of criminal conduct, including the circulation of forged documents bearing 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.
Also speaking, Abejide described the Abuja gathering as 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 dismissed claims that he and Gombe had been suspended by the opposing faction, describing such actions as baseless and lacking legal effect.
The ADC factional leaders accused members of the coalition of being serial defectors with a history of moving across multiple political parties, alleging that their involvement has destabilised the ADC.
