The Federal Capital Territory branch of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has reaffirmed its allegiance to the party's National Working Committee headed by Senator David Mark. This comes in response to recent public challenges to the leadership by some state chairmen. In a statement released on Wednesday and signed by FCT Publicity Secretary Nwigbo Samuel, the chapter declared full support for Mark's administration. It warned against internal dissent escalating into legal disputes, urging members to use internal mechanisms to resolve grievances. "The FCT chapter of ADC firmly supports the National Working Committee under Senator David Mark and urges all members to align with this position in the interest of unity and progress," the statement read. It referenced the adage that a divided house cannot stand, cautioning that litigation could expose the party to exploitation by external forces. The chapter called on party leaders to intervene and promote stability. It advocated for fairness and inclusiveness, expressing confidence that ADC would overcome its current difficulties and eventually displace the present government, which it described as having negatively impacted the nation.
Senator David Mark's hold on the ADC leadership is being tested not by electoral defeats but by fractures within the party's own structure, and the FCT chapter's public endorsement reveals more about fragility than strength. That a regional wing feels compelled to issue a statement backing the national leader suggests the party is already operating on split loyalties, with state chairmen openly challenging the hierarchy. The invocation of "a divided house cannot stand" is not just rhetoric—it's an admission that the ADC is, in fact, divided.
The timing matters. With Nigeria's political terrain reshaping ahead of future elections, internal squabbles weaken smaller parties trying to position themselves as alternatives to the dominant PDP and APC. The FCT chapter's plea to avoid litigation in favour of internal dispute resolution hints at a deeper institutional weakness: the party lacks trusted, functional mechanisms to handle conflict. When unity has to be repeatedly invoked, it is usually already slipping.
Ordinary ADC members and supporters stand to lose the most. Grassroots activists who joined the party as a viable opposition platform may begin to question its credibility if leadership tussles take precedence over policy or voter engagement. Aspirants eyeing elective positions under the ADC banner now face uncertainty over whether the party can remain cohesive enough to offer a real chance.
This is not an isolated incident but part of a recurring pattern in Nigeria's minor parties—leadership crises that emerge long before election cycles, draining energy and public trust.
