ABUJA, Nigeria: Nigeria‘s 2023 presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress, Dumebi Kachikwu, accused former Senate President David Mark of illegally seizing control of the party through unauthorized committees during a television interview on Thursday, April 30, 2026.
Okay News reports that Kachikwu stated the faction led by Mark bypassed the party constitution by establishing ad hoc committees to replace state executives and install loyalists.
A Federal High Court in Abuja barred the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognizing congresses organized by the faction, prompting the former Senate President to file an appeal and seek a stay of execution while assuring members the party will participate in the 2027 elections. Mark communicated to party members through the party’s publicity secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi.
“You do not have anything to be afraid of regarding all the litigations before the party. I want to assure you that we shall triumph in all the cases, and we shall be on the ballot for every election. We are more than prepared and ready for these cases, and we shall do everything within the ambits of the law to surmount every situation,” Mark said.
Speaking on Arise TV, Kachikwu said the party constitution requires state chairmen to conduct congresses and conventions. He said state chairmen who initially supported the opposing faction returned to him after being sidelined.
“Some of these state chairmen were working with David Mark because they believed that these people would take the party forward, before they realised that these guys said, you guys are too poor for us, you are commoners, we cannot work with you, we need people who look more like us,” Kachikwu said.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to deliver a judgment at 2:00 PM WAT today on an appeal filed by Mark challenging a March order by the Court of Appeal directing all parties in the leadership dispute to maintain the status quo.
