Abejide Fights Back as Expelled ADC Members Seek to Void Mandate
A fresh round of political tension has erupted in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as two expelled members of the party move to challenge the mandate of Hon. Leke Abejide, the House of Representatives member for Yagba East/West/Mopamuro Federal Constituency of Kogi State.
The petitioners — Kingsley Temitope Ogga and Adaji John Udale — have asked the leadership of the House of Representatives to declare Abejide’s seat vacant.
They claim that the lawmaker is no longer entitled to his mandate and accuse him of acting without the backing of the party’s recognised leadership.
But in a swift response, Abejide’s media team dismissed the petition as baseless and illegal, insisting that both Ogga and Udale were expelled from the ADC and therefore lack the legal standing to question his position.
The team described their move as an act of impersonation and warned that the duo could face legal consequences if they continue to parade themselves as ADC officials.
Abejide’s camp further invoked Sections 68 and 109 of the Nigerian Constitution, which spell out the circumstances under which a lawmaker’s seat can be declared vacant, stressing that none of those conditions applies to the representative.
They added that Abejide was duly elected and remains the only serving ADC legislator in the country.
The development deepens internal divisions within the ADC, especially in its Kogi State chapter, where prolonged leadership disputes have led to rival factions and repeated claims of expulsion, suspension and reinstatement.
While the faction loyal to Abejide maintains that Ogga and Udale have long ceased to be members of the party, the petitioners insist they retain legitimate authority.
Abejide’s supporters expressed confidence that the Speaker of the House of Representatives would throw out the petition, describing it as a distraction orchestrated by disgruntled former members.
As the conflict intensifies, analysts warn that the infighting could further weaken the ADC’s structure ahead of future political contests, unless the party resolves its internal leadership crisis and restores cohesion.
