The National Executive Committee NEC of the African Democratic Congress ADC, comprising the state chairmen of the embattled party, has dissociated itself from the David Mark led coalition and Nafiu Gombe.
At a world press conference attended by State Chairmen, Don Norman Obinna, the group’s spokesman said, “We disassociate the ADC from David Mark, Rauf Aregesola, Bolaji Abdullahi, Prof Osunbor and all members of the so-called coalition who attempted to hijack our party and state that all actions taken by them in the name of the ADC are not binding on the ADC.
“We disassociate the ADC from the claims of Nafiu Gombe and firmly and unequivocally state that he has never held the position of deputy chairman of the ADC.
According him, ” The ADC remains a party of and for all Nigerians and not just for former political office holders and the elites. The ADC is also not for sale.”
Newsdiaryonline reports that the ADC NEC members said their move was meant to rescue the party after INEC has urged the parties in the crisis to maintain the status quo.
Officials of NEC who spoke said they were not party to the ungolding crisis and going by the ADC Constitution, they had to step in to fill the leadership vacuum.
If INEC failed to do the needful after their intervention, they also pledged to brief Nigerians.
The group named an interim leadership that will steer the ship of the party for about two weeks.
Read the full text of the briefing by the state chairmen as NEC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A STATEMENT BY THE NEC OF THE AFRICAN DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS IN REACTION TO INEC’S DELISTING OF THE DAVID MARK LED FACTION OF THE ADC
Ignorance is not only a disease, but also a crime. We have watched with amusement how a few Nigerians with no real understanding of issues concerning our party the ADC have jumped in with emotions devoid of reasoning or understanding.
We therefore wish to correct a lot of misinformation out there in the public domain but before doing this, we want to say we are in total support of INEC’s position on this matter and commend them on their bravery in finally doing what’s right.
Here are the facts of the matter:
1.The tenure of Ralph Nwosu as Chairman of the ADC ended in August of 2022.
We disassociate the ADC from David Mark, Rauf Aregesola, Bolaji Abdullahi, Prof Osunbor and all members of the so-called coalition who attempted to hijack our party and state that all actions taken by them in the name of the ADC are not binding on the ADC.
We disassociate the ADC from the claims of Nafiu Gombe and firmly and unequivocally state that he has never held the position of deputy chairman of the ADC.
The ADC remains a party of and for all Nigerians and not just for former political office holders and the elites. The ADC is also not for sale.
The people who have called themselves the Coalition have no democratic credentials and are only interested in a power grab as evidenced by the way and manner in which they attempted to hijack our party and throw out the original members.
We affirm that our former presidential candidate, Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu, is a committed and bona fide member of our party whose purported expulsion by the David Mark led group was an act of desperation taken too far.
We put on notice all embassies and high commissions in Nigeria that the David Mark led coalition are not members of the ADC and don’t speak for the ADC.
The following members of the ADC have been appointed to manage the day-to-day affairs of our party pending the election of a new NWC in our soon to be conducted convention. We wish them success and urge INEC to accord them the necessary recognition and support in order to save the African Democratic Congress from total collapse.
Thank you and God bless.