The leadership tussle within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Akwa Ibom State took a sharp turn on Friday, January 23, 2026, as the party’s Zonal and Coalition leadership officially debunked claims made by Rt. Hon. Dick Duke.
The dispute centers on a petition by Duke accusing the Assistant National Organizing Secretary (South-South), Mr. Ben Smith, of running “unconstitutional parallel structures” and engaging in anti-party activities. Duke also claimed to be the INEC-recognized Chairman of the party in the state.
The Rebuttal: “Constitutionally Selective and Inconsistent”
Responding on behalf of the State Coalition and the National Working Committee (NWC) South-South, Kingsley Okposin (South-South Zonal Coordinator) described Duke’s claims as a distortion of the party’s constitution.
Key points of the rebuttal include:
- Authentic Leadership: The leadership affirmed that Mercy Edeke remains the authentic, INEC-recognized State Chairman, having been elected in 2022 with a tenure running until 2026.
- Dick Duke’s Background: Okposin pointed out that Duke was a State Ex-Officio of the APC until October 2025. He noted there is no record of Duke’s resignation from the APC, no ADC congress that elected him, and no NWC appointment making him State Chairman.
- Ben Smith Absolved: The party absolved Ben Smith of any wrongdoing, stating his coordination efforts are “constitutionally grounded” and “nationally delegated” under approved transitional arrangements.
- Disobedience Warning: The leadership decried Duke’s public actions as “direct disobedience” to the NWC and an attempt to hijack the party through “intimidation and constitutional distortion.”
The Current State of ADC Akwa Ibom
The party clarified that Akwa Ibom is currently in a transitional phase pending the next round of official congresses. During this period, the NWC-approved coalition leadership is the only recognized authority managing party affairs.
“ADC will not be hijacked by misinterpretation, intimidation, or constitutional distortion,” the statement warned, reinforcing that no individual can appropriate party structures outside NWC authority.
