ADC Ratifies Expulsion of Kogi Lawmaker Leke Abejide Amid Escalating Intra-Party Dispute

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has ratified the expulsion of Hon. Leke Abejide, the member representing Yagba Federal Constituency of Kogi State in the House of Representatives. The decision confirms an earlier action taken by the Kogi State chapter of the party, which accused the two-term lawmaker of serial acts of indiscipline and anti-party activities.

The ratification, announced at the end of an NWC meeting in Abuja, comes after weeks of internal tension and a formal request by the Kogi chapter urging the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to declare Abejide’s seat vacant.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party leadership reiterated its commitment to enforcing discipline within its ranks. “The National Working Committee of the African Democratic Congress has ratified the decision of the Kogi State Executive Committee of the party to expel Hon. Leke Abejide from the party for various acts of indiscipline. The party reaffirmed that it would not tolerate any acts of indiscipline from its members as it seeks to build a party governed by discipline, character, and integrity,” the statement read.

Kogi ADC Pushes for Vacant Seat as Internal Structures Are Reorganised

Beyond the expulsion, the NWC has directed the Kogi State leadership of the ADC to move swiftly to fill vacant positions at ward, local government, and state levels. This, it said, must be done in accordance with the party’s approved transition guidelines ahead of forthcoming congresses.

Two weeks before the NWC ratification, the Kogi chapter of the ADC had formally written to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, notifying him of Abejide’s expulsion and urging the House to declare the Yagba Federal Constituency seat vacant. The letter, jointly signed by the State Chairman, Kingsley Temitope Ogga, and the State Secretary, Adaji John Udale, accused the lawmaker of gross misconduct and anti-party activities.

The correspondence also referenced Abejide’s earlier suspension on 4 August and his alleged refusal to appear before the party’s Appeal Committee prior to his final expulsion on 28 August. The state chapter further claimed that he worsened his case by making damaging public statements against the party on national television and other media platforms. The ADC in Kogi maintains that its actions are consistent with party rules and necessary to safeguard internal discipline and organisational cohesion.

Abejide Fights Back, Questions Legitimacy of Petitioners and Process

Hon. Leke Abejide, however, has mounted a strong counter-offensive, describing the attempts to unseat him as a desperate political manoeuvre by individuals he claims no longer have legal standing within the ADC. His camp insists that those behind the petition had themselves been expelled at the ward level, with their expulsion allegedly ratified through all levels of the party structure.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Public Communications, Bashiru Mohammed, Abejide’s team dismissed the credibility of State Chairman Ogga and Secretary Udale, describing them as lacking the authority to challenge his mandate. Mohammed accused them of misleading the public with what he termed a petition driven by malice and political vendetta, insisting that their expulsion had long been confirmed from ward to national levels.

He further argued that the duo had no basis to invoke constitutional provisions they barely understood. Mohammed urged the new party hierarchy to familiarise themselves with Sections 68 and 109 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which set out the conditions under which parliamentary seats can be declared vacant. According to him, those pushing the petition were attempting to rely on constitutional arguments that the party itself had allegedly failed to uphold in previous internal disputes.

Citing earlier controversies within the party, Mohammed argued that “the ADC, which flagrantly failed to respect the constitution of the party at the national level following Nwosu’s resignation, cannot refer to the superior constitution of Nigeria at the state level.” Abejide’s camp maintains that he was duly re-elected and that his mandate remains intact, insisting that his supporters and the law stand firmly behind him.

Uncertain Path Ahead for Yagba Seat and ADC’s Internal Cohesion

The ratification of Abejide’s expulsion by the NWC marks a significant escalation in the power struggle within the ADC in Kogi State, with implications for both party cohesion and representation in the National Assembly. While the party leadership is pressing ahead with efforts to restructure its internal organs and replace vacant positions ahead of congresses, the question of who legitimately speaks for the party in Kogi remains contested.

At the heart of the dispute is not only the fate of Abejide’s seat, but also the broader issue of how internal party disputes are managed and resolved within Nigeria’s political parties. If the Speaker of the House of Representatives eventually acts on the Kogi ADC’s request, it could trigger further legal and political battles over representation, constitutional interpretation, and intra-party democracy.

For now, Abejide continues to insist that his mandate from the people of Yagba Federal Constituency is secure, while the ADC leadership maintains that discipline and internal order must prevail. The coming weeks may determine whether the matter is settled politically within the party, or through a more protracted legal and parliamentary process.