Posted by Chinenye on Fri 25th Sep, 2026 - tori.ng
A major political exit is adding fresh pressure to the ADC as internal disputes and leadership battles continue to raise questions ahead of 2027.
(Tonte Ibraye. Photo by Daily Post)
Tonte Ibraye, who ran for Rivers State governor on the African Democratic Congress platform in 2023, has walked away from the party.
He cited the ongoing leadership turmoil and unresolved court battles over who actually controls the party's structures and decision-making processes heading into 2027 elections.
Ibraye announced his exit in a letter dated September 24 addressed to his ward chairman in Degema.
He said he had stuck with the ADC because he believed in its values around internal fairness and respect for properly constituted party bodies.
But recent moves within the party made staying on impossible.
The core problem, according to Ibraye, is that newcomers have been attempting to oust duly elected party officials across the country.
This has worsened the existing crisis and raised serious doubts about the party's future.
He also flagged the leadership row involving the faction controlled by former Senate President David Mark, questioning how a disputed leadership can claim authority over party structures and candidate selection when legal cases about that very dispute remain unresolved in court.
Ibraye warned that anything the ADC produces as candidates under this contested leadership lacks solid footing.
Candidates emerging from processes run by a leadership the courts haven't validated stand on shaky ground, he said.
A political party cannot build credibility if its internal foundation is riddled with legal and organisational battles.
Whoever wins elections under those circumstances will face questions about the legitimacy of their victory.
Ibraye also criticised the opposition for obsessing over removing President Bola Tinubu without offering Nigerians a convincing vision of how things would be different if they took over.
Opposition politics, he argued, must be about more than just defeating an incumbent. It needs to rest on clear solutions to the country's economic and social crises.
The party has attracted major political figures in recent months seeking an alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress, but infighting over leadership and control of its machinery has dogged these efforts.
Ibraye said the ADC's internal problems had crossed beyond normal political disagreements into matters of principle.
He compared the party to a sinking ship he could no longer afford to stay aboard.
Before deciding his next move, Ibraye said he would consult with his supporters and political contacts across Rivers State's 23 local government areas.
His decision takes effect immediately.
He stressed that leaving the ADC changes nothing about his dedication to Rivers State and Nigeria or his push for accountable leadership.