Delta ADC Splits Into Two Factions Ahead of Party Congresses

Ahead of its upcoming ward, state, and national congresses, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Delta State is embroiled in a leadership dispute between two factions. One side is led by the George Timinimi-led Transition Leadership Team, while the other is controlled by the State Chairman, Mr. Austine Okolie. The conflict was exacerbated by a recent advertorial from Okolie asserting that Prof. Pat Utomi—not Chief Great Ogboru—is the recognized State Leader of the ADC coalition, a move the opposing faction claims has undermined party unification efforts.

The Transition Leadership Team, backed by the National Chairman Senator David Mark, has accused Okolie of acting as an agent provocateur. They argue that while Okolie is a member of the state’s statutory leadership, he has consistently refused to attend coalition meetings and has issued unilateral directives, including instructions on where members must collect congressional expression of interest forms. The team maintains that the existence of parallel secretariats—one at Midwifery Road used by Okolie and another at DLA Road for the coalition—is a normal aspect of coalition politics and does not signify a division within the party.

In response to Okolie’s actions, the Timinimi-led team clarified that the coalition structure includes multiple parties, and they emphasized that the national leadership has mandated a unified approach ahead of the congresses. They warned that Okolie’s insistence on operating independently of the state leadership team and the Membership Revalidation Committee threatens to derail months of preparation. The National Organizing Secretary has affirmed that official congressional forms are to be distributed through the sanctioned DLA Road secretariat, contradicting Okolie’s claims.

The Transition Leadership Team has called on all party members to remain united and adhere to the directives of Senator David Mark’s National Working Committee. They urged Okolie to abandon his confrontational stance and cooperate with the established leadership structure to ensure a smooth electoral process, cautioning that his current approach is counter-productive and risks misleading party supporters.