Politics: Dr Chike Okogwu, Accuses Political Actors of Using Judiciary, Propaganda to Destabilise ADC

Dr Chike Okogwu, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) National Leader for Persons With Disabilities (PWD), has accused unnamed political actors of exploiting judicial proceedings and media propaganda to undermine the party’s leadership and its preparations for the 2027 general elections.

Okogwu, who is also a member of the party’s 50 Wise Men and Women Policy and Manifesto Committee and Presidential Campaign Council, made the allegations in a statement examining the ongoing leadership dispute involving Senator David Mark and Nafiu Bala Gombe.

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He argued that the controversy surrounding the party had gone beyond an internal leadership disagreement, raising broader questions about party democracy, judicial independence, institutional integrity and the role of the media in political disputes.

According to him, the developments surrounding the ADC should be examined against the background of the party’s July 29, 2025, National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, at which a new interim leadership emerged.

ADC Leadership Transition and July 2025 NEC Meeting

Recounting the events leading to the leadership dispute, Okogwu said the ADC held its 99th NEC meeting on July 29, 2025, at Chelsea Hotel, Abuja, where the party’s existing National Working Committee was dissolved and a caretaker leadership constituted.

He said the meeting was presided over by the party’s founding National Chairman, Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu, with Senator David Mark emerging as Interim National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as Interim National Secretary.

Okogwu maintained that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) monitored the meeting and that the commission subsequently received the relevant documentation and uploaded the names of the new leadership to its portal.

He further claimed that Nafiu Bala Gombe was present at the meeting and participated in the transition process, citing previous public statements by Nwosu to support his position.

He questioned the circumstances surrounding Bala Gombe’s subsequent legal challenge, arguing that the party’s constitutional processes and documentary records should be central to determining the legitimacy of its leadership.

Supreme Court Intervention and ADC Leadership Dispute

Okogwu also recalled the Supreme Court’s April 30, 2026, decision setting aside the Court of Appeal’s status quo ante bellum order, which had affected the recognition of the David Mark-led leadership by INEC.

He said the apex court’s intervention paved the way for the substantive dispute to return to the Federal High Court for determination.

According to him, the Supreme Court did not finally resolve every substantive issue concerning the validity of the ADC leadership transition but addressed the appeal relating to the interim judicial order.

He described the decision as significant for the David Mark-led leadership, while cautioning against interpreting judicial decisions beyond their actual legal effect.

Quoting former Supreme Court Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, Okogwu emphasised that judicial decisions could be challenged through established legal procedures, noting that judicial finality should not be confused with judicial infallibility.

Okogwu Questions Bala Gombe’s Political Activities

The ADC chieftain also raised questions about the reported financial resources and logistics supporting Bala Gombe’s political activities.

He referenced reports concerning Bala Gombe’s alleged residence in Asokoro, appearances at Transcorp Hilton and the security and vehicle convoy accompanying his movements.

Okogwu questioned the sources of funding for the reported activities, including accommodation, security, mobilisation and political operations.

He, however, presented these as questions requiring public accountability rather than findings of financial wrongdoing.

He argued that individuals seeking political leadership should be prepared to provide transparency regarding the resources supporting their political activities.

November 5 Judgment: ADC Considers Appeal

Commenting on the November 5, 2026, judgment delivered by Justice Peter Odo Lifu of the Federal High Court, Okogwu said the ruling in favour of Bala Gombe had generated considerable political controversy.

He stated that the judgment nullified the David Mark-led leadership structure, affected the processes through which the party produced its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and directed INEC to recognise the leadership emerging from the court’s decision.

However, he argued that the judgment should not be interpreted as the final determination of the party’s political future, particularly as the David Mark-led faction intends to challenge the decision through the appellate process.

He identified several issues he believes require appellate examination, including the interpretation of the ADC Constitution, the resolutions of the 99th NEC meeting, INEC’s monitoring report and affidavit, and the constitutional powers of the party’s NEC.

Okogwu maintained that a judgment of a court of first instance does not necessarily conclude a dispute where an appeal is available.

He also cautioned against what he described as the politicisation of judicial decisions, insisting that the actual orders and legal reasoning of a court should be distinguished from political interpretations circulated by interested parties.

Warns Against Media Sensationalism

The ADC official criticised sections of the media for allegedly amplifying sensational political claims without adequately examining their legal foundations.

He argued that reports suggesting the permanent collapse of the ADC or the elimination of its presidential candidate should be supported by the actual contents of the judgment and the applicable legal provisions.

According to him, the media must distinguish between decisions of trial courts and the outcomes of subsequent appellate proceedings.

He urged journalists to prioritise accuracy, investigation and balanced reporting, warning that sensational headlines could turn the media into instruments of political propaganda.

He also called on the ADC leadership to improve its communication strategy, noting that inadequate public communication could create information gaps that allow disputed claims to gain traction.

References Parallel Party Activities and Nomination Forms

Okogwu further raised concerns about allegations surrounding the sale of nomination forms and the organisation of parallel party activities by individuals claiming to represent a different ADC leadership.

He questioned the authority under which such nomination forms were being issued and the constitutional standing of the processes associated with them.

He warned that prospective aspirants could suffer financial losses if they invested in electoral processes that were subsequently declared invalid.

He therefore called for clarity regarding the authority behind the sale of nomination forms and urged the party to protect its members and aspirants from potential exploitation arising from the leadership dispute.

ADC Presidential Campaign Flagged Off in Sokoto, Kebbi

Despite the leadership controversy, Okogwu said the ADC remained focused on its political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He cited the presidential campaign flag-offs held in Sokoto and Kebbi States on November 4 and 5, 2026, respectively, where former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Rotimi Amaechi, were received by party supporters.

According to him, the Sokoto reception attracted large crowds, with thousands of supporters reportedly lining the route from the airport to the party’s state secretariat.

He said the journey, estimated at approximately seven kilometres, reportedly took about three hours because of the turnout.

He also alleged that the party’s campaign activities in Kebbi encountered disruptions, including attacks on convoys and difficulties accessing venues and accommodation.

Okogwu described the two campaign events as evidence of the party’s continuing mobilisation and argued that the ADC’s political prospects should not be judged solely by its internal leadership dispute.

Reaffirms ADC’s Disability Inclusion Agenda

Speaking in his capacity as the party’s National Leader for Persons With Disabilities, Okogwu reaffirmed the ADC’s commitment to disability inclusion and political participation.

He said persons with disabilities should be recognised as active participants in political and national development processes rather than being treated merely as beneficiaries of occasional gestures of sympathy.

He identified accessible political structures, reasonable accommodation, meaningful representation, economic empowerment and the implementation of disability rights as key components of the party’s inclusion agenda.

He also highlighted the ADC’s GAMECHANGERS initiative, describing disability inclusion as a constitutional, democratic and human rights obligation.

Says 2027 Election Will Determine Political Legitimacy

Okogwu maintained that the judicial process and the electoral process serve different constitutional purposes, arguing that the courts determine disputes according to law while Nigerians ultimately determine political leadership through the ballot.

He said the ADC would pursue its legal remedies while continuing to strengthen its national structures, develop its policy platform and prepare for the 2027 general elections.

He urged the party’s leadership and presidential candidates to remain focused on presenting alternative policies on the economy, security, social welfare and governance.

Concluding, Okogwu warned against attempts to use litigation, political manoeuvring and media narratives to undermine the aspirations of opposition supporters.

He said the ADC would defend its institutional interests through the courts, its political interests through organisation and its electoral ambitions through engagement with Nigerians.

“The courtroom is not the country. The headlines are not the electorate. Political propaganda is not democracy,” he stated.

He expressed confidence that the Nigerian electorate would ultimately determine the country’s political direction in the 2027 general elections.

Dr Chike Okogwu is the ADC National Leader for Persons With Disabilities, a member of the party’s 50 Wise Men and Women Policy and Manifesto Committee, and a member of its Presidential Campaign Council.