Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu, has advised Leke Abejide to remain in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) despite the ongoing leadership crisis in the party.
Abejide, who represents Yagba federal constituency in the House of Representatives, is aligned with the faction led by Nafiu Bala, which has challenged the leadership of the David Mark-led bloc in court.
The lawmaker had recently declared support for Tinubu during an interview on Channels Television, saying his “heart is both in the APC and the ADC”.
He was subsequently expelled by the ADC alongside Bala and other members over alleged anti-party activities during the party’s April 14 national convention in Abuja.
Speaking at Abejide’s birthday celebration, Gbajabiamila praised the lawmaker’s political resilience, noting his repeated electoral victories under the ADC platform.
“For a man to contest elections in a place like Kogi and win back-to-back under a relatively unknown party, it tells you who that man is,” he said.
Gbajabiamila urged Abejide not to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) but to remain within the ADC and continue his political fight.
“Stay in that same ADC. Fight them, scatter them. Hold on to your party,” he said.
“Don’t say you will come and join APC. No, no, no. Stay in ADC. Win your election there as you will.”
He added that Abejide has invested years of effort and resources into building his political base within the party and should not relinquish it.
“A party that you’ve been in for years with your sweat and your money — nobody can take it away from you,” Gbajabiamila said.
The chief of staff also wished Abejide success in his ongoing legal battle over the party’s leadership, expressing confidence that the lawmaker would continue to act on principle.
