Doherty Dumps ADC for NDC Amid Deepening Opposition Crisis

Former Lagos governorship candidate, Funso Doherty, has officially resigned from the African Democratic Congress, ADC, and joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, citing growing internal divisions and uncertainty within the opposition party.

In a statement released Thursday, Doherty said his decision followed extensive consultations, careful consideration and “prayerful reflection,” stressing that the ADC had failed to evolve into the unifying platform many opposition figures had envisioned.

According to him, the persistent leadership crisis rocking the ADC made it increasingly difficult for the party to effectively position itself as a credible alternative ahead of future elections.

“We had hoped that ADC would serve as the platform to unite the opposition, but that is clearly no longer the case,” he stated.

“In the circumstances, everyone must decide whether to remain in the ADC or move to the NDC. After due consultation and reflection, I have decided to join the NDC.”

Doherty added that he believes the NDC offers a more viable platform to deliver good governance and inclusive leadership to Nigerians.

His defection comes barely days after former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and ex-Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, also dumped the ADC for the NDC.

Obi had blamed his exit from the ADC on “endless court cases, internal battles, suspicion and division” within the party.

Doherty, who contested the 2023 Lagos governorship election on the ADC platform, had previously defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2024 before returning to the ADC following the crisis within the PDP.

He had recently declared interest in contesting the 2027 Lagos governorship election under the ADC before his latest move to the NDC.

Meanwhile, the ADC leadership crisis continues to deepen as factions loyal to David Mark and Nafiu Bala continue to battle for control of the party structure.

The Supreme Court had, on April 30, directed the faction led by Mark to return to the Federal High Court for the determination of issues surrounding the leadership dispute, while setting aside an earlier status quo order issued by the Court of Appeal.