By Joshua Jackson Kwajafa, JJK
In recent months, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under the leadership of Comrade Shehu Yohanna Kambile in Adamawa State has witnessed an influx of new members some of them political bigwigs with long histories of moving from one party to another in search of personal relevance. While the entry of influential figures into any political organization can be seen as a sign of growth and attraction, the unfolding drama within the ADC suggests otherwise. What should have been a moment of consolidation and expansion is instead becoming a test of integrity and internal democracy.
Reports from reliable party sources indicate that some of these newly arrived politicians are already plotting to dislodge the existing executive committee of the ADC under the leadership of Comrade Shehu Yohanna Kambile in Adamawa State.
Their alleged motive is not rooted in genuine reform or the advancement of the party’s ideals but in selfish ambition and cheap sentiment. The goal, it appears, is to install their loyalists stooges who will dance to their tune and help them hijack the party structure ahead of the next election cycle.
This kind of political scheming is not new in Nigeria’s political landscape. Whenever a political party starts gaining ground, opportunists appear men and women who have perfected the art of infiltration. They arrive under the guise of “strengthening the party,” but their real mission is to capture its internal machinery for personal gain. The ADC in Adamawa must not fall for this familiar trap.
The current executives of the ADC under the leadership of Comrade Shehu Yohanna Kambile,have through patience and sacrifice, kept the party alive during its most difficult years. They worked when there was no financial backing, no high-profile endorsements, and no political glamour attached to the ADC brand. These are the true party builders the grassroots believers who have sown in hardship and are only now beginning to reap modest recognition. To discard them now in favor of political adventurers driven by ego and entitlement would be both ungrateful and destructive.
Furthermore, the attempt to remove duly constituted executives without due process is an affront to the principles of internal democracy, which the ADC as a progressive party stands for. It sends a dangerous signal that power, not merit or loyalty, determines leadership within the party. Such tendencies will only breed disunity, mistrust, and eventual collapse from within.
It is also worth noting that politics based on “sentiment” rather than merit or performance has been the bane of Nigeria’s democratic growth. When leaders are chosen based on allegiance to a godfather rather than competence and commitment, institutions suffer. The ADC must rise above this pattern. The party’s national leadership should immediately intervene to safeguard the Adamawa State chapter from being turned into a playground for political opportunists.
Instead of plotting division, the newcomers should demonstrate their sincerity by contributing ideas, resources, and goodwill to strengthen the party. They should respect the structures they met on the ground, learn the culture of internal discipline, and submit themselves to democratic norms. The ADC has a constitution, and any leadership change must follow due process not sentiment or backroom conspiracies.
In conclusion, the African Democratic Congress in Adamawa State stands at a crossroads. The choice before it is clear: either to preserve its integrity and reward loyalty or to allow opportunists to tear it apart in pursuit of selfish ambitions. The time has come for all genuine party members, both old and new, to stand firm against manipulation and defend the sanctity of the ADC as a people-oriented political movement.
The survival and growth of the ADC in Adamawa will depend not on how many big names it attracts, but on how firmly it upholds fairness, justice, and respect for due process.
