Fresh findings show that the emerging structure of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ajeromi-Ifelodun is already under significant strain, as parallel ward meetings and competing splinter groups threaten the party’s fragile unity. Insiders warn that the pattern may be laying the groundwork for deeper internal conflicts ahead of upcoming electoral contests.
A senior ADC leader in the local government revealed that Ward A has splintered into four rival groups, three of which are allegedly operating without any formal party membership formalization . “A quiet but escalating power struggle is building inside Ward A,” the leader said, noting that the unregistered groups are acting outside the party’s recognised structure.
According to insider party sources, only one of the four groups,the mainstream ADC Ward A structure belongs to the officially recognised party hierarchy. Leaders caution that the refusal of the remaining groups to formalise their membership is an early sign of internal disputes that may erupt when the electoral season approaches.
Insiders further disclosed that the yet to be formalized groups are mobilising followers, holding separate meetings, issuing directives, and openly claiming the ADC banner despite lacking the mandatory membership documentation required by the party constitution.
The Four Rival Groups Identified
Ihekeruwa Camp led by Monday Achi, with Chief Sunday Okedi and Bunmi Imoukhode as key figures.
Osakwe Group headed by Hon. Kola Daniel.
Wale Group leaned to Chief Francis Bartholomew Chima.
Mainstream ADC Ward A Group, chaired by Mercy Afoke, the only female ward chairman which currently meets somewhere in the Babani area.
Top ADC leaders in the local government describe the situation as an “internal invasion” by individuals who have yet to complete their membership registration but insist on running parallel structures. One senior official disclosed that the party recently classified such operators as “outsiders,” insisting that only the ADC membership card constitutes legal evidence of belonging.
Party elders warn that this legitimacy battle mirrors similar tactics once deployed in the Labour Party, adding that such manoeuvres are unlikely to succeed within the ADC framework.
A Brewing Legitimacy Battle
Several insiders fear that the current tensions foreshadow future acrimony, especially as ambitions sharpen ahead of expected congresses. They argue that the splinter groups are positioning themselves to capture ward structures once official congress activities commence.
What Next for the ADC?
Reassuring their followers, recognised ADC leaders maintain that the ward structures remain intact as recognized by Abuja and advised those yet to formalize their membership as did recently by the former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. They insist that once the parallel groups agree to complete their registration, all meetings will be collapsed into a unified platform to restore stability.
Until then, Ward A remains one of the most fragmented and volatile chapters of the ADC in Ajeromi-Ifelodun, a situation party insiders describe as “a ticking time bomb” if not swiftly addressed.
