The political storm brewing within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kogi State is far from an ordinary intra-party scuffle. It is a full-blown confrontation between legitimacy and political opportunism, and it is already shaping the early contours of the 2027 political landscape.
At the centre of this storm is Kingsley Ogga, who insists—firmly and without hesitation—that he remains the authentic, INEC-recognized chairman of the ADC in Kogi State under the national leadership of former Senate President David Mark.
The Tenant Who Wants to Be Landlord
Ogga’s irritation with Hon. Leke Abejide’s sudden grab for the party structure is unmistakable. He describes it as “a tenant attempting to become landlord overnight,” a metaphor that echoes a broader frustration within the party: politicians who only run to smaller platforms after losing primaries elsewhere.
Abejide, who joined the ADC in 2019 after failing to secure an APC ticket, has long battled suspicions of divided loyalty—suspicions that eventually culminated in his expulsion for anti-party activities.
A Kangaroo Congress With APC Fingerprints
The so-called congress that Abejide’s faction held last Saturday has been dismissed by Ogga as “null, void and without any legal standing.” No national officers were present, no notable stakeholders attended, and the proceedings bore all the markings of a hurried political stunt.
But more troubling is the pattern that has been building for years.
Abejide openly supported APC presidential candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023. He was also alleged to have backed the APC’s governorship candidate in Kogi. And significantly, former Governor Yahaya Bello was quoted last year promising Abejide an influential role in the future:
“You will head the future campaign team of Governor Ododo for his second term. After his second term, we will consider you.”
That alleged promise—to make him future campaign director—casts a long shadow over his recent moves within the ADC. It places his sudden “congress” in a political context that is impossible to ignore.
Which leads to the question Ogga continues to ask:
Can the ADC be hijacked by a man who campaigned for another party?
And more pointedly:
Is President Tinubu now a member of the ADC that his posters adorned Abejide’s congress?
A Party Under Reconstruction, Not Under Siege
Far from the confusion alleged by the Abejide camp, Ogga insists that the ADC is undergoing structured rebuilding. The party has launched its central and eastern senatorial districts. By December 6, it will unveil the Kogi West structure—a move Ogga says will finally put the question of authenticity to rest.
His tenure, he notes, runs until after the 2027 elections. His role as coordinating chairman of all ADC state chairmen nationwide reinforces that claim.
ADC Cannot—and Will Not—Adopt Tinubu
Ogga dismisses, almost with amusement, the narrative that the ADC is considering adopting President Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election. He calls it “a fabrication of moles trying to derail the party,” insisting that the ADC was formed to provide an alternative to the APC, not to reinforce it.
The Power Shift Question
The tensions are further sharpened by ongoing agitation for power shift to Kogi West. Abejide, known for opposing power rotation, appears to be using the ADC structure as a political bargaining chip. His “congress”—with its heavy APC flavour—has therefore been interpreted by many as a calculated attempt to weaken Kogi West’s push for equity.
A Call for Calm
Despite the political noise, Ogga urges ADC members statewide to remain calm and focused. The party, he argues, is intact, legally grounded, and steering toward 2027 with clarity of purpose.
As the December unveiling approaches, one thing is clear:
In the battle between legitimacy and political opportunism, history tends to favour the side anchored in law and structure.
And Ogga is betting entirely on that side.
– Ibrahim Yahaya writes from Lokoja.
