Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has urged ADC lawmaker Leke Abejide to remain in the African Democratic Congress and intensify internal battles within the party amid its ongoing leadership crisis.
He made the remarks at a birthday event in Abuja, where a video of his comments later surfaced online.
What happened
In the viral clip, Gbajabiamila openly encouraged Abejide to stay in the ADC and resist rival factions.
“I know you to be a committed party man… Stay in that same ADC. Fight them. Scatter them. Hold on to your party,” he said.
He added that Abejide should ignore opposing voices and continue his political efforts within the party.
“We like what you are doing. Continue… Nobody can come and take your party away from you,” Gbajabiamila stated.
ADC crisis deepens
The ADC has been engulfed in a leadership tussle, with multiple factions battling for control, including a group linked to former Senate President David Mark.
Abejide is aligned with the Nafiu Bala faction, which is contesting the legitimacy of the rival leadership bloc.
Abejide’s stance
The Kogi lawmaker has maintained support for President Tinubu despite remaining in the ADC.
Speaking on Channels Television, he said his political loyalty cuts across both APC and ADC.
“My heart is in the APC, and in the ADC… Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and it’s not about party,” he said when asked about his 2027 presidential choice.
Protest at INEC
Last week, Abejide and other supporters staged a protest at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, rejecting the Mark-led faction.
They accused the group of attempting to hijack the party’s leadership in violation of its constitution.
“We are here to urge INEC to do the right thing… These people are hijackers,” Abejide said.
What this means
The development highlights growing tensions within the ADC as political alignments begin to shift ahead of the 2027 elections.
The party’s internal crisis is expected to shape its strength as a potential opposition platform.
'Stay in ADC and scatter them': Tinubu's chief of staff Gbajabiamila asks Leke Abejide, Bala Gombe not to join APC pic.twitter.com/CaZlvpcXaU
— Temitope Hassan (@temihat) April 20, 2026



