The House of Representatives confirmed on Tuesday the defection of Leke Abejide, member representing Yagba Federal Constituency in Kogi State, from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The announcement was made by the Speaker during plenary, alongside the defection of at least 17 other ADC members to the newly registered Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). Abejide had publicly declared his resignation from the ADC on Friday at a press conference, citing internal party turmoil. He accused David Mark and members of an opposition coalition of hijacking the ADC, a party he claimed to have helped build to national prominence.
"I joined ADC, nurtured it to national recognition as a political party with representation in both national and state assemblies," Abejide said. "The party structure was funded by me as the then national leader of the party, which I have willingly relinquished to the current national chairman, Honourable Nafiu Bala Gombe, and I wish him good luck as he continues to fight for his rights in court." He stated that his lawyers advised him to exit the party to protect his political future, calling the decision "painful but necessary." The defection follows the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) reinstatement of the David Mark-led faction of the ADC after a Supreme Court ruling on Thursday.
Leke Abejide claims he built the ADC from the ground up, yet is now leaving it over a leadership dispute he helped ignite by stepping down. His departure benefits his political future, but offers no clarity for constituents in Yagba Federal Constituency. The ADC's internal chaos continues to drive members away, weakening its national presence. Nigerians in his constituency may now question which party structure truly represents their interests.
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