Dumebi Kachikwu, former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has condemned a faction within the party for holding a national convention despite a Federal High Court order issued on April 14. The court had directed parties in a suit involving ADC state chairmen and a faction linked to David Mark to maintain the status quo, effectively barring any congresses or conventions pending resolution of the case. Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday in Abuja, Kachikwu described the convention as unlawful and a breach of judicial authority, accusing the faction of deepening internal rifts. He argued that such actions threaten democratic norms and undermine respect for the rule of law. Kachikwu criticised the event for lacking substantive policy discourse, saying it focused instead on attacks against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling party. He stressed that opposition politics should offer viable policy alternatives rather than rely on confrontation. He also criticised opposition figures Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi for failing to address security and economic challenges in their regions. Kachikwu affirmed that the legitimate leadership of the ADC would continue operating within legal boundaries and resist takeovers driven by personal ambition. He called on President Tinubu to prioritise national unity, warning that ongoing political divisions could weaken governance.
Dumebi Kachikwu's public rebuke of the ADC faction reveals a deeper crisis of legitimacy within a party already struggling to remain relevant in Nigeria's crowded opposition landscape. By highlighting a clear court order dated April 14 that was allegedly violated, Kachikwu positions himself as a defender of legal process, but also exposes how factionalism in minor parties often hinges on control of structure rather than ideology.
The dispute underscores how court injunctions are frequently used as tactical tools in Nigerian party politics, with compliance often selective. Kachikwu's criticism of the convention's lack of policy content—and his broader indictment of Atiku and Obi for neglecting regional governance challenges—points to a widening credibility gap between opposition actors and the electorate. When even minor parties prioritise symbolic confrontations over tangible alternatives, public disillusionment grows.
Ordinary Nigerians, especially those seeking credible opposition options beyond the PDP and Labour Party, are left with diminished choices. The ADC's internal chaos reinforces the perception that many opposition platforms are personality-driven and legally fragile, offering little real challenge to the ruling party.
This episode fits a recurring pattern: opposition fragmentation, legal skirmishes over party control, and rhetoric-heavy politics that fail to coalesce into coherent alternatives. Without institutional integrity, even court rulings may do little to stabilise parties or rebuild public trust.
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