Tension in Kogi ADC as Ogga rejects Abejide’s alleged APC-backed congress
The internal crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kogi State has escalated into a full-scale political confrontation, with far-reaching implications for the 2027 elections.
Available information to BusinessDay indicates that what began as a dispute over party leadership is now shaping up as a clash between what party loyalists describe as “legitimacy versus political opportunism”
Kingsley Ogga, the INEC-recognised chairman of the ADC in Kogi State under the national leadership of former Senate President, David Mark, has firmly restated his position as the authentic leader of the party in the state. Ogga, visibly irritated by efforts to usurp the party structure, likened the situation to “a tenant attempting to become landlord overnight,” in a clear reference to Leke Abejide, a member of the House of Representatives, representing Yagba federal constituency.
Read also: El-Rufai formally joins ADC months after quitting APC
Abejide, who defected to the ADC in 2019 after failing to clinch the APC ticket, has long faced accusations of divided loyalty. Those suspicions climaxed in his expulsion for alleged anti-party activities.
Ogga dismissed last Saturday’s congress organised by Abejide’s faction as “null, void and without any legal standing,” noting that no national officers or key stakeholders were present. He described the gathering as a hurried political stunt bearing “APC fingerprints.”
This assertion draws from what party insiders say is a troubling pattern. Abejide openly supported APC presidential candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023 and was also accused of backing the APC governorship candidate in Kogi.
He added that the controversy is a statement attributed to former Governor Yahaya Bello, who reportedly assured Abejide of a significant role in future APC campaign structures in the state.
These developments, Ogga argues, cast doubt on Abejide’s intentions: “Can the ADC be hijacked by a man who campaigned for another party?” He further questioned why Tinubu’s posters appeared at a congress supposedly held by ADC members.
Contrary to claims of confusion within the party, Ogga insisted the ADC in Kogi is undergoing a deliberate and structured rebuilding process. The central and eastern senatorial district structures have already been inaugurated, with the Kogi West structure scheduled for unveiling on December 6.
Ogga, whose tenure runs until after the 2027 elections, also serves as the coordinating chairman of all ADC state chairmen nationwide, a role he says further reinforces the legitimacy of his leadership.
He dismissed as “pure fabrication” rumours that the ADC is contemplating adopting President Tinubu for the 2027 presidential race. According to him, the ADC was founded as a credible alternative to the APC, not as an appendage to it.
The crisis is occurring against the backdrop of renewed agitation for power rotation to Kogi West. Abejide, known for resisting power shift, is believed to be using the disputed ADC structure as a bargaining chip. His recent “congress,” widely perceived as reflecting APC interests, has heightened suspicion that the move is aimed at weakening Kogi West’s political push.
Read also: You cannot fight insurgency by doing deals with bandits ADC tells Tinubu
Despite the escalating tensions, Ogga urged ADC members across Kogi to remain calm and focused. He emphasised that the party remains intact, legally grounded, and fully committed to its strategic direction as 2027 approaches.
As the December 6 unveiling of the Kogi West structure draws near, the political battle lines are becoming sharper. Whether legitimacy or opportunism prevails, observers say, will shape not just the future of the ADC but the broader political landscape in Kogi State.
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