Katsina ADC Holds Parallel Congresses, Produces Rival Chairmen

The African Democratic Congress in Katsina State slipped deeper into crisis this week after two factions held separate congresses and produced rival state chairmen, worsening an internal leadership dispute in the party.

The parallel congresses were held on Tuesday and Thursday in Katsina amid growing disagreement among party members over control of the state structure, following tensions involving old members and new entrants from other political parties.

At the congress held on Tuesday, one faction returned Musa Wamba as state chairman and produced Nasir Umar as secretary-general. But another group, which held a separate congress on Thursday, announced Mohammed Rimi as chairman and named Abubakar Adhama as secretary-general.

The emergence of two sets of leaders has created uncertainty over who controls the party in the state and has exposed deep divisions within the ADC chapter in Katsina.

The crisis also followed earlier objections from officials at the party’s national secretariat, who reportedly rejected the Tuesday congress and maintained that recognised congresses were meant to hold at a different time.

That development appeared to fuel the disagreement, with both camps standing by their separate exercises and insisting on the legitimacy of their positions.

The dispute is linked to wider tensions that have been building within the party in recent months, especially after the defection of several politicians into the ADC. The influx of new members has reportedly triggered disagreements over leadership arrangements, party control and the direction of the state chapter.

Observers say the rival congresses point to unresolved power struggles within the party, with both longstanding members and newer entrants seeking influence in the structure ahead of future political contests.

With each faction now backing different leaders, the crisis has raised concerns about unity within the party and the possible effect on its activities in Katsina.
Efforts to stabilise the situation may now depend on intervention from the party’s national leadership, especially as questions remain over which faction will be officially recognised.

For now, the parallel congresses have left the ADC in Katsina divided, with the leadership battle showing no clear sign of immediate resolution.