Alleged UK, Chinese Diplomats Attend ADC Convention Amidst Party Crisis

Individuals identified as representatives from the British High Commission in Nigeria reportedly attended the national convention of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Tuesday. This convention was organized by the faction of the party led by David Mark.

Furthermore, event organizers asserted that the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, was also in attendance. However, the Chinese embassy in Nigeria has since contacted PREMIUM TIMES to refute this claim, stating that neither the ambassador nor any other Chinese diplomat was present at the event. An embassy official, Chen Yao, clarified that an Asian man seen at the convention, whom ADC officials Dino Melaye and Rauf Aregbesola identified as the Chinese envoy, is unknown to the embassy. This publication has also confirmed that the Asian man presented at the event is indeed not the Chinese ambassador to Nigeria.

According to Rauf Aregbesola, the National Secretary of the ADC faction, the British High Commission was represented by a three-person delegation headed by its Political Secretary, Thomas Samson. He also mentioned that a Nigerian staff member from the High Commission, Damilola Oyedele, was part of this delegation. The British High Commission has not yet issued a statement regarding the individuals presented as their officials.

The ADC faction proceeded with its convention despite the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) withdrawing its recognition of the party's leadership two weeks prior. INEC cited a March 12 Court of Appeal ruling as the basis for this decision, which suspended the recognition of Mr. Mark's faction. The commission also indicated it would cease dealings with another faction of the party, led by Nafiu Bala, a former national vice chairman.

The ADC is currently experiencing a significant internal division, with three distinct groups vying for control of the party structure in anticipation of the 2027 general elections. Aside from the Mark faction, which is considered the most prominent, there is also the Nafiu Bala faction and a newly formed faction led by Dumebi Kachikwu. Each of these groups claims to be the legitimate leadership of the party.

The "third way" group has rejected both Mark and Bala, accusing them of attempting to seize control of the party. This group supports INEC's decision to withdraw recognition and is advocating for a neutral interim committee to manage the party's affairs.

In response to INEC's actions, the Mark-led group has called for the resignation of INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan and the national commissioners.