Internal divisions within Nigeria’s opposition landscape are widening as the African Democratic Congress struggles to maintain cohesion across key states. What appears on the surface as routine party disagreements is fast evolving into a structural test that could shape its credibility ahead of future elections.

Tensions within the African Democratic Congress escalated over the weekend as multiple states conducted parallel congresses, producing rival leadership structures and deepening factional divides ahead of the party’s planned May 12, 2026 inauguration of state executives.

In states including Plateau, Ogun, and Ebonyi, competing factions organised separate congresses, each claiming legitimacy. In Plateau, rival camps led by key stakeholders held congresses at different venues in Jos, while in Ogun, two separate gatherings in Abeokuta produced different chairmen.

The crisis is further complicated by legal battles, with factions increasingly resorting to court orders to assert control. According to the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the leadership has updated its convention committees in a bid to ensure a smooth national convention despite the turmoil.

Coverage across Nigerian media has largely highlighted the chaotic nature of the parallel congresses, with emphasis on disunity and internal wrangling. However, a closer look shows that much of the reporting stops short of examining why the crisis is intensifying now.

While some outlets focused on the embarrassment of multiple chairmen emerging from single states, others pointed to the legal disputes and factional alignments. Yet, many reports underplayed the broader implication: that the ADC is becoming a magnet for high-profile political actors, increasing the stakes of internal control.

Beyond the immediate clashes, the unfolding crisis reflects a deeper struggle over the future direction of the party. The involvement of influential political figures—including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso in convention planning—signals that the ADC is being positioned as more than a fringe opposition platform.

That growing relevance is precisely what is driving internal competition.

However, a closer look shows that the reliance on ex parte court orders and factional congresses is not just a symptom of disagreement—it is a sign of weak institutional control. In Nigeria’s political context, such disputes often determine who controls party structures, candidate tickets, and ultimately, electoral leverage.

What makes this more complex is the reaction from the ruling All Progressives Congress, which has openly mocked the ADC’s internal struggles. While politically expected, the criticism underscores a strategic risk: prolonged instability within the opposition could hand incumbents a clear advantage.

Factional disputes and parallel congresses are not new in Nigeria’s political system. Both major parties have faced similar crises in past election cycles, often resolving them only after prolonged negotiations or court interventions.

However, the timing of the ADC’s crisis is significant. With early alignments already forming ahead of the 2027 general elections, control of party structures at the state level is becoming increasingly critical.

Historically, parties that fail to resolve such disputes early risk:

• Losing cohesion during primaries
• Fragmenting their voter base
• Weakening their negotiating power in coalition talks

The emergence of multiple executives in key states suggests that the ADC may be entering this high-risk phase.

The scheduled inauguration of state executives on May 12 is intended to project unity, but the underlying fractures remain unresolved. The real test now is whether the party can reconcile competing interests quickly enough to present a credible alternative in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape. Failure to do so could shift momentum away from the opposition at a critical moment.