The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is battling to hold its house together as Akahi News can confirm that the party’s national chairman, Senator David Mark, has held a crucial meeting with representatives of the party’s former federal lawmakers. The emergency gathering comes on the heels of a wave of defections that has left the ADC bleeding legislative representation.

Akahi News learnt that on Tuesday, no fewer than 17 members of the House of Representatives dumped the ADC and joined the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC). Their defection letters were read during plenary by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, marking one of the largest single-day defections in recent legislative history.

The lawmakers who abandoned the ADC came from different constituencies across the country, including Kano, Anambra, Lagos, Edo, and Rivers States. Another lawmaker, Leke Abejide from Kogi, also left the ADC but took a different path – he moved to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling party.

Many of the defecting lawmakers cited leadership problems and legal disputes within the ADC as their reasons for leaving. It is a familiar refrain in Nigerian politics: a party tears itself apart with internal crises, and lawmakers seek refuge elsewhere.

Mark Meets with Former Lawmakers at National Secretariat

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Kola Ologbondiyan, Mark’s technical adviser on strategic communication, confirmed that the meeting took place at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday. The gathering brought together representatives of former ADC federal lawmakers – not the ones who just left, but those who had previously served under the party’s banner.

“The representatives of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) former Federal Lawmakers in a crucial meeting with the party’s National Chairman, Senator David Mark, at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, Wednesday,” Ologbondiyan wrote.

However, the post provided no details about what was discussed behind closed doors. The party’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, has yet to release an official statement. This silence is telling. When a party loses 17 sitting lawmakers in a single day, one would expect an urgent press conference, a strong rebuttal, or at least a reassurance to remaining members. So far, there has been none.

Akahi News gathered that the defections have thrown the ADC into a state of uncertainty. The party had positioned itself as a coalition of well-meaning Nigerians, but the departure of Peter Obi to the NDC earlier in the week seems to have triggered a domino effect. First Obi. Then 17 Reps members. Who will be next?

Leadership Problems and Legal Disputes – The Cracks Beneath the Surface

The defecting lawmakers did not hide their reasons. Leadership problems and legal disputes within the ADC were cited as the driving forces behind their exit. This suggests that the party’s internal machinery has been dysfunctional for some time.

When a party is plagued by lawsuits over who truly leads its structures, when factions emerge and legitimacy is questioned, lawmakers become nervous. They worry about their own re-election prospects. They fear being associated with a sinking ship. And they start looking for lifeboats.

The NDC, under the leadership of Peter Obi, has become an attractive lifeboat. The party is new, energetic, and seemingly free of the baggage that weighs down older parties like the ADC and PDP. For lawmakers seeking a fresh platform ahead of 2027, the NDC offers hope.

Leke Abejide’s decision to join the APC is a different calculation. By moving to the ruling party, he gains access to federal patronage, committee chairmanship possibilities, and the security of being on the side of power. It is a pragmatic move, but one that will disappoint those who saw the ADC as a true opposition alternative.

What Does This Mean for the ADC and Nigerian Politics?

The ADC is now at a crossroads. With 17 Reps members gone and Peter Obi gone, the party has been severely weakened. Senator David Mark, a former Senate President, has the political weight and experience to steady the ship. But can he do it alone?

Akahi News believes that the ADC must urgently address the leadership problems and legal disputes that lawmakers complained about. If those issues are not resolved, more defections are likely. The meeting with former lawmakers is a start, but it must be followed by concrete actions: court cases withdrawn, factions reconciled, and a clear roadmap for the future communicated to the public.

The party’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, needs to break his silence. A media strategy that relies on silence while opponents define the narrative is a losing strategy. The ADC must tell its own story – why the party remains viable, what it stands for, and how it plans to recover from these defections.

For the Nigerian opposition, the fragmentation continues. The NDC is gaining momentum. The PDP is still dealing with its own internal crises. The ADC is licking its wounds. And the APC, watching from the comfort of power, is smiling. A divided opposition is the ruling party’s best friend.

A Philosophical Reflection on Defections and Political Mortality

There is a saying: “Rats desert a sinking ship.” But what if the ship is not sinking – only listing? The ADC may not be sinking, but it is certainly taking on water. The defection of 17 lawmakers is a serious blow. Yet parties have survived worse. The question is whether the ADC has the leadership, the structure, and the grassroots support to weather the storm.

Senator David Mark knows a thing or two about political survival. He has been in Nigerian politics for decades. He has seen parties rise and fall. He has navigated military regimes, civilian transitions, and everything in between. If anyone can steady the ADC, it is him.

Akahi News calls on the ADC to be transparent about its internal challenges. Nigerians are tired of political parties that pretend everything is fine while their members jump ship in droves. Acknowledge the problems. Apologise to the members who felt alienated. And then fix the issues so that the remaining members feel confident staying.

The meeting has been held. The post on X has been published. Now the ADC must act. The 2027 elections are approaching. There is no time to waste.

📌 Key Summary Box – What You Must Know

• ✔ ADC National Chairman Senator David Mark held a crucial meeting with representatives of the party’s former federal lawmakers on Wednesday in Abuja.
• ✔ The meeting followed the defection of 17 House of Representatives members to the NDC on Tuesday, with their letters read by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.
• ✔ Another lawmaker, Leke Abejide from Kogi, left the ADC for the APC.
• ✔ Many defecting lawmakers cited leadership problems and legal disputes within the ADC as reasons for their departure.
• ✔ The defectors came from Kano, Anambra, Lagos, Edo, and Rivers States, among others.
• ✔ For Nigerians: The ADC is severely weakened by the exit of Peter Obi and 17 Reps members. The party must urgently address its internal crises to prevent further defections. A fragmented opposition benefits the ruling APC.