Tensions within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have escalated, as three disgruntled party members have taken legal action to challenge the legitimacy of its newly installed interim leadership.

The lawsuit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeks to oust former Senate President David Mark from his position as Interim National Chairman.

The plaintiffs; Adeyemi Emmanuel, Ayodeji Victor Tolu, and Haruna Ismaila are calling the leadership transition both unconstitutional and illegal.

In suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1328, they list the ADC as the 1st defendant, while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the party’s immediate past National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, are named as 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively.

Also joined in the case are Senator David Mark (4th defendant), former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (5th defendant) as Interim National Secretary, and ex-Minister of Sports Bolaji Abdullahi (6th defendant) as Interim National Publicity Secretary.

The plaintiffs contend that the appointment of the interim officers contravenes the ADC’s constitution, particularly the 2018 amended version.

They are also raising concerns about whether those appointed were even properly registered members of the ADC when the appointments were made.

Among the key issues the court is being asked to address are:

• Whether the ADC constitution permits the creation of interim leadership roles;
• Whether the Executive Committee of the party can be dissolved in the absence of a formally convened National Convention or an official decision by the National Executive Committee (NEC);
• Whether INEC acted within the law by recognizing the interim leadership;
• And whether the leadership handover contravenes a 2022 ruling by Justice Binta Nyako.

The claimants are urging the court to declare the appointments “unconstitutional, unlawful, null and void” and to rule that they violate the party’s internal rules and structure.

This legal move comes in the wake of a significant political development.

A coalition reportedly backed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has recently adopted the ADC as a political platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.

Following this realignment, Ralph Nwosu announced the dissolution of the existing party structures to accommodate a new leadership framework, a decision now being hotly contested in court.

As of now, the court has not scheduled a date for hearing the case.

Prominent Nigerian lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi has taken a sharp swipe at the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, labelling him the embodiment of Nigeria’s failed political leadership.

In a strongly worded post on X (formerly Twitter), Farotimi described the former Rivers State governor as the face of everything wrong with the country’s political elite.

“Nyesom Wike: poster boy of the Nigerian ruining class. Cacophonous, parasitic, narcissistic, Lilliputian, gluttonous, myopic, and completely untouched by any desire for immortality,” he wrote, ending the post with the Nigerian flag and vomiting emojis.

Farotimi, known for his fierce advocacy for good governance and his criticism of entrenched political interests, made the statement amid growing public discourse around Wike’s controversial actions and rhetoric since becoming FCT Minister.

While he didn’t provide further explanation in the post, the reaction online has been intense, triggering heated conversations on social media.

Many users supported his sentiments, while others took issue with his harsh language.

The backlash appears to be connected to Wike’s recent comments targeting the new opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which features several prominent figures including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and David Mark.

Wike had dismissed the coalition as self-serving, claiming its leaders were “rescuing their stomachs.”

Farotimi, however, believes the coalition will make no meaningful impact if it fails to push for electoral reforms before the 2027 elections.

He warned that without systemic change, any attempt to challenge the status quo would be futile.

In his view, the coalition’s focus should be on restructuring the electoral process and ensuring the independence and credibility of INEC.

He cautioned: “The success of the coalition ahead of the 2027 elections without first implementing meaningful electoral reforms is a waste of effort.”

Farotimi also described any coalition without reform as “brainless.”

As at the time of this report, Wike and his media aides have not issued a response to Farotimi’s remarks.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed confidence in its leadership and dismissed concerns over the emergence of an opposition coalition spearheaded by the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Felix Morka, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, emphasized that President Bola Tinubu is actively addressing national issues in a way no previous leader has, and as such, the party sees no threat from any political alliance.

Speaking during an interview with Arise TV, Morka defended the president’s actions and reiterated the party’s stance.

“The All Progressives Congress is not jittery; we have no reason to be jittery at all.
We are not jittery because the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who is the leader of our party, is doing exactly what Nigerians elected him to do,” he stated.

According to Morka, Tinubu has taken bold steps to tackle longstanding problems in the country, showing a level of resolve unmatched by his predecessors.

“He summoned the political will, which no other president has done before him, to confront those challenges,” he said.

He added that the APC remains unconcerned by the formation of any political coalition, regardless of its platform or name.

“We’re not concerned about any kind of coalition, whether under the ADC or under ADA or any other nomenclature that they choose,” Morka said.

A new survey conducted by the Africa Polling Institute (API) has revealed a sharp decline in public confidence in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nigeria’s major public institutions.

According to the Nigeria Social Cohesion Survey 2025, 83% of Nigerians said they have “little or no trust” in the current federal government.

The sentiment is nearly the same for the legislative arm, with 82% expressing a lack of trust in the National Assembly, under the leadership of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.

The judiciary did not fare much better in the public’s eye.

The report showed that 79% of Nigerians similarly expressed “little or no trust” in the judicial system, referencing both the immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kayode Ariwoola, and the current CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

In comparison with data from previous editions of the survey conducted in 2019, 2021, and 2022, this year’s findings reflect the lowest levels of citizen trust recorded to date.

The report was officially unveiled over the weekend in Abuja and highlighted a troubling erosion of social cohesion across the country.

The Social Cohesion Index stood at 46.8%, signifying a fragile sense of unity among Nigerians.

The API, with support from the Ford Foundation, carried out the survey between January and February 2025, interviewing 5,465 Nigerians aged 15 and above through face-to-face household interviews.

The sample covered all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, ensuring proportional representation across all senatorial districts.

Interviews were conducted in five major languages: English, Pidgin, Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba.

One of the standout findings was a rising sense of solidarity among Nigerians not based on national pride or unity of purpose, but rather a shared struggle against worsening economic conditions.

The report noted that “citizens constantly allude to economic hardship, high costs of transport, and goods and services, as well as the lack of economic prosperity under the Tinubu economy.”

Among other key findings, 53% of Nigerians said they now “feel disappointed in Nigeria.”

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) under President Muhammadu Buhari, Babachir Lawal, has formally resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) with immediate effect.

Lawal, a vocal critic of the current administration, announced his resignation in a letter dated June 29, 2025, addressed to the Chairman of his APC ward, Bangshika Ward, Hong Local Government Area, in Adamawa State.

“I write to formally notify you of my resignation from the All Progressive Congress,” Lawal stated in the letter.

“In due course, I will make public my current political affiliations where I plan to join other compatriots to work towards making Nigeria a better living place for all its citizens. This resignation takes immediate effect. Please, remain blessed and extend my warm regards to other members of your party.”

Lawal is now a key member of an emerging political coalition aiming to unseat President Bola Tinubu and displace the ruling APC in the upcoming 2027 general elections.

The coalition, which includes heavyweight politicians such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, has chosen the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its platform going forward.

Speaking to DAILY GAZETTE, Lawal revealed that the coalition had decided against forming a brand-new political party.

“We’ve concluded that we are joining an existing party. Critical members have already resigned to make room for new leadership,” he explained.

On why the coalition abandoned efforts to register a new political platform, Lawal cited legal complications and internal resistance within some smaller parties.

“Some parties had court cases, leadership tussles, or were simply unwilling to make room for us. But we’ve found one that is both welcoming and viable,” he noted.

Lawal also responded to efforts by Dr. Usman Ardo, a former ally, who is leading a splinter group in pursuit of registering a new party called the All Democratic Alliance (ADA).

“Ardo has been name-dropping without authorisation. While we can’t stop him from trying to register a party, we’re focused on what is realistic. There’s simply not enough time to register and stabilise a new party before the 2027 election campaigns begin,” he said.

Despite their backgrounds in the APC, Lawal insists the coalition is independent and distinct from any existing party structure.

“Many of us are former APC members,” he said.
“Atiku and (Peter) Obi are with us, but not as official emissaries of their current platforms. This is an independent initiative aimed at providing a genuine alternative for Nigerians.”