A faction within the African Democratic Congress on Tuesday rejected the claim of Bolaji Abdullahi to the position of National Publicity Secretary, deepening internal disagreements in the party.
The dispute came as members of the group, led by Christopher Okechuku, accused Abdullahi of trying to take control of the party structure without following due process.
The group, which described itself as the authentic leadership of the party, questioned Abdullahi’s membership status and said he had not properly identified when he joined the party. They also claimed that his recent actions were part of an attempt to gain influence within the party without proper backing from its established structure.
The faction dismissed claims linked to Abdullahi that Bola Tinubu was involved in influencing the party’s internal affairs. According to them, bringing the presidency into the matter was an attempt to divert attention from the ongoing leadership dispute.
They further accused Abdullahi and his supporters of ignoring the party’s constitution while trying to push their agenda. The group insisted that any leadership change must follow laid-down rules and not be carried out by individuals they described as newcomers.
The statement also alleged that some state party chairmen who initially supported Abdullahi were later abandoned, with their roles taken over by others who, according to the faction, were not properly registered members of the party.
In addition, the group criticised the people associated with Abdullahi, claiming they were not fit to represent the party due to their past political records.
They maintained that the party remains under its recognised leadership and that any attempt to take over its structure would not succeed.