Hon. Leke Abejide, member representing Yagba Federal Constituency in Kogi State under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), declared on Thursday that he would exit the party if a court rules in favour of the faction led by former Senate President David Mark. Abejide made the statement during an appearance on the political talk show "Politics Today." He emphasized that his membership in the ADC remains tied to the legitimacy of the faction he aligned with, which opposes the David Mark-led group. The ongoing legal battle centers on control of the party's leadership and structure. Abejide stated clearly, "If the court judgment favours David Mark's faction, I will leave the ADC." He did not indicate which political party he might join if that scenario occurs. The ADC has been divided since the emergence of two competing factions, each claiming to be the rightful leadership. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has yet to officially recognise either faction as the legitimate executive body of the party.
Leke Abejide's conditional loyalty to the ADC exposes the fragility of party membership in Nigeria's political landscape, where allegiance often hinges on legal outcomes rather than ideology or policy. His public declaration that he will leave the party if David Mark's faction wins in court underscores how personal calculations and factional victories shape political identity more than party platforms.
The ADC's internal rift reflects a broader pattern in Nigerian politics where party structures are less about grassroots organization and more about access to institutional recognition and electoral slots. With INEC yet to recognise either faction, the stakes are not about vision but control—over the party name, structure, and ultimately, the ability to field candidates. Abejide's position reveals that for many elected officials, party membership is provisional, dependent on which faction gains legal or bureaucratic validation.
Ordinary ADC supporters and voters in Yagba Federal Constituency are left navigating uncertainty, as their representative signals a potential exit. This undermines political continuity and weakens the connection between constituents and their elected officials. When politicians treat party affiliation as transactional, voters lose the ability to hold coherent platforms accountable.
This episode fits a recurring trend: Nigerian political parties as battlegrounds for elite control, not ideological contestation. The focus remains on who wins the legal or administrative war, not what the party stands for.
