Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila has sent a clear signal of support to a lawmaker at the centre of an internal leadership dispute within the African Democratic Congress, urging House of Representatives member Leke Abejide to maintain his membership of the party and resist efforts to dislodge him from the organisation he helped build.
Gbajabiamila delivered the remarks publicly at Abejide’s 50th birthday celebration, telling the Kogi State federal lawmaker that the presidency was supportive of his position and encouraged by the role he was playing within the ADC.
“Hold on to your party. Don not allow them. We like what you are doing, continue. Stay in ADC. Do the right thing. Nobody will come and take your party from you. The party that you built. I know you to be a committed person, somebody who does not want to be cheated,” Gbajabiamila said.Abejide is currently involved in court proceedings against the David Mark-led ADC faction over the leadership and direction of the party. A separate legal challenge was also filed by Nafiu Gombe of Gombe State, who alleged that the Mark leadership had effectively taken over a party he had helped to build. Both cases are being contested by parties with opposing views on the legitimate direction of the ADC.
