Honorable Leke Abejide, the representative for Yagba East/Yagba West/Mopamuro Federal Constituency of Kogi State in the House of Representatives, has announced his departure from the African Democratic Congress (ADC). A two-term lawmaker elected on the ADC platform, Abejide cited a range of issues including protracted internal crises, ongoing legal disputes, significant leadership uncertainty, and deliberate attempts to undermine his political aspirations within the party. He conveyed this decision at a press conference in Abuja, stating it was a painful yet necessary step to safeguard his political future.

Abejide explained that the crisis within the ADC prompted a lawsuit he filed in August 2025 against prominent party figures, including former Senate President David Mark, former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola, former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu, and the ADC itself. His legal team sought an accelerated hearing due to the impending 2027 electoral activities, a request that the court granted. However, he accused the defendants of intentionally delaying proceedings by introducing new parties to the case, effectively stalling its adjudication until the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released its timetable for the 2027 primaries and general elections. This prolonged delay, he noted, led his legal counsel to advise him to seek an alternative political platform.

Further compounding his concerns, Abejide highlighted a leadership vacuum within the ADC, asserting that the absence of a validly elected national chairman and national secretary would prevent him from securing a legally recognized nomination form, which is mandatory for any candidate. He also alleged that a faction within the party was not interested in its growth but rather in frustrating the ambitions of long-standing members like himself, whom he claimed had worked tirelessly to nurture the party since 2019.

Abejide's exit coincides with a contentious wave of expulsions within the ADC. He was among several members purportedly expelled at the party's last national convention, alongside a factional national chairman, Nafiu Bala, for alleged anti-party activities. However, Abejide dismissed these expulsions, insisting that he had already voluntarily and constitutionally withdrawn his membership from the party. He stressed that his decision followed extensive consultations with his political base and aligned stakeholders, confirming that his political structure remains robust and intact.

The ADC has been embroiled in a severe leadership crisis for several months, splintering into at least three main factions, all vying for control ahead of the 2027 general elections. These factions include the prominent David Mark-led bloc, along with groups led by Nafiu Bala and former presidential candidate Dumebi Kachikwu. Abejide had previously been aligned with the Bala faction. Despite being the sole serving federal lawmaker elected on the ADC platform after the 2023 elections, Abejide maintained that the persistent internal wrangling had eroded his confidence in the party's viability.

Regarding an intervention from the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, Abejide clarified a viral video where Gbajabiamila reportedly advised him to remain in the ADC and