The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Coalition Leadership Team in Akwa Ibom State has dismissed leadership claims made by Rt. Hon. Dick Duke as constitutionally selective, historically inconsistent, and in direct contravention of the party’s binding national precedents.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Friday on behalf of the State Coalition and the National Working Committee (NWC) South-South zone, Kingsley Okposin South-South Zonal Coordinator and Chairman of the Zonal Coordinators Forum defended Mr Ben Smith, the Assistant National Organising Secretary (South-South), against accusations levelled by Duke.
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Okposin categorically absolved Smith of any constitutional violation, describing his actions as fully grounded in the ADC Constitution, nationally delegated authority, and established precedents.
He rejected Duke’s assertion of state chairmanship, pointing out critical deficiencies in his credentials.
“Hon. Duke remains the State Ex-Officio of the APC, though his tenure expired in October 2025,” the statement noted. “There is no constitutional record of resignation from the APC, no ADC congress electing him, and no NWC decision appointing him as State Chairman of ADC.”
The leadership reaffirmed that Mercy Edeke is the authentic and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)-recognised State Chairman of the ADC in Akwa Ibom. Elected in 2022, her tenure is set to continue until 2026.
Okposin stressed that no constitutional or legal process supports Duke’s claims to the position. Investigations and scrutiny, he said, confirm that Mr Smith’s coordination efforts under the coalition framework are lawful and operate strictly within nationally approved transitional arrangements.
The statement criticised Duke for what it termed a public display of disobedience to interim leadership guidelines issued by the NWC. Such conduct, it argued, amounts to direct defiance of national party authority.
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“The ADC Coalition Leadership Team issues this response to directly counter the misleading narrative circulating under the name of Rt. Hon. Duke Dick, which attempts to distort the ADC Constitution, misapply the party organogram, and wrongfully criminalise nationally sanctioned coalition processes,” the statement read.
It added: “Akwa Ibom State remains in a transitional phase pending congresses. Mercy Edeke remains the authentic 2022-elected State Chairman. No individual may appropriate party structures outside NWC and coalition authority.”
“ADC will not be hijacked by misinterpretation, intimidation, or constitutional distortion.”
The party leadership has urged adherence to established protocols to maintain internal discipline and unity.
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