National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ralph Nwosu (right) and former Senate President David Mark shortly after resigning his position in Abuja on Wednesday.
.Nwosu resigns as national chairman, hands over leadership
.As faction rejects coalition
.Says it’s a bad omen, may cause confusion in party
CYRIL MBAH, Abuja
The former national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Ralph Nwosu, on Wednesday formally handed over and presented the membership card of the party to former Senate President, David Mark; and a former Governor of Osun State Chief Rauf Aregbesola, as the interim new national chairman and national secretary, respectively as the Opposition coalition figures had converged on the Yar’Dua Centre in Abuja on Wednesday for a crucial meeting after the initial disappointment with the previous venue.
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi; a former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai; and a former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, were there and witnessed the presentation with keen interest at the meeting.
Others present were a former member of the National Assembly, Senator Dino Melaye; a former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalong; Dele Momodu, Senator Gabriel Suswam; Senator Ireti Kingibe of the Labour Party (LP), a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; and a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (retd.).
Meanwhile, the former Senate President, Senator David Mark and former Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who effectively took over the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) from Wednesday said the coalition was not desperate for power.
The National Chairman of the party, Ralph Nwosu, supported by Alhaji Saheed Baba Abdullahi, the National Secretary of the party, announced his resignation to enable Mark and Aregbesola to assume leadership.
Addressing the gathering, Nwosu said the opposition coalition is not about seeking power, but moving Nigeria from “the ICU to global reckoning.
“ADC has always been about the rejuvenation of Nigeria and Africa. This journey started about 18 months back and we have over 12 NWC meetings.
“When we were consulted, we said we have also been consulting because we are a party that believes in coalition.
A day like this shows that we are ready to sacrifice anything for Nigeria. We don’t have any doubt in the man (David Mark), we have decided to resign.”
Explaining further, Nwosu said that the decision for the change in power was a collective one by the National Working Committee (NWC) and ratified by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party, dismissing insinuations of any crack in the party leadership.
“I wish to inform this gathering that I got the commitment of almost all the men on this table and they are all decent men. We agreed to bury our differences and our positions for the sake of Nigeria.
“The endorsement that we gave was for Senator David Mark as Interim National Chairman of ADC. We all decided to resign so that we can paddle the canoe that will take us to the Villa.
We want to ensure credible leadership that will restore the pride of our people.
“The approval of Rauf Aregbesola as National secretary with his service record and pedigree is an asset. Look at David Mark and Aregbesola you will know that it isn’t about self but a new beginning. Nigerians are yearning for a coalition.
Nwosu then assured the new leaders of his continued support.
“I want to assure you that working with our BOT Chairman and other ADC NWC members and Board which you will meet, you will have nothing to fear. I will be working from the floor but I will always be there.”
In his acceptance speech, Senator Mark said that the coalition goes beyond power grabbing but to rebuild democracy in the country.
According to the former military governor of Niger State, “let it be known to all, that this Coalition of National political opposition groups goes beyond gaining political power. It is a concerted effort to rebuild the crumbling pillars of Nigeria’s democracy.”
Mark noted that the choice of ADC was a product of extensive deliberations, and discussions, which spanned several months with deserving platforms.
He said the new leadership was committed to building and transforming the party into a strong political party, “not merely as another electoral vehicle but as a fortress and platform of our revived democracy.
“It will be the harbinger of democracy where members of the party will reign supreme. A party that obeys its rules and constitution in the best democratic traditions. A party of equal stakeholders, equal joiners and equal owners.
“It is the great house into which all patriots are invited. A party that recognises the experience of the old and the energy of the youths. To all Nigerians, we say here is the new big tent into which all patriots are invited. Here, the North shall hold hands with South, the youth shall find equal footing with the elder, women will be equal partners with men, the farmer and the technocrat shall labour side by side, not for the triumph of one party over another, but for the triumph of Nigeria herself.”
Some of those at the event were former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi and his running mate, Datti Baba Ahmed; former Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; former Governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Engr. Babachir Lawal;
Some former APC NWC members who were there included the former National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; former spokesman of the APC, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi; former Caretaker National Secretary of APC, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe; and, former National Vice Chairman, Northwest, of the APC, Salihu Moh. Lukman. Four ministers in the Muhammadu Buhari administration – Rotimi Amaechi (Transportation); Rauf Aregbesola (Interior); Ibrahim Malami SAN (Attorney General and Minister of Justice); and, Barr. Solomon Dalung (Sports)
Meanwhile, a splinter group has emerged from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and rejected the alleged adoption of the party by the coalition of opposition politicians led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
The faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Musa Isa Matara, claimed that the opposition politicians were trying to hijack the party without consulting its state executives and notable founding members.
Matara also stated that state executives, youth, women leaders and ward coordinators were not involved in the discussions leading to the party’s adoption, alleging also that some members of the coalition group were people of questionable character who would bring confusion into the ADC and shatter the peace in the party.
The ADC faction emphasized that the party is not a private coalition platform to be adopted without internal consultation and flatly rejected the coalition’s adoption of the party, citing concerns about the party’s autonomy and integrity.
Matara’s statement said: “We warn those coming into the ADC as part of this imposed arrangement to tread carefully.
Be mindful that some few individuals are attempting to sell out the soul of our party for personal gain. The ADC is not for sale. It belongs to its members, not political merchants or elite dealmakers.”
The faction’s statement followed the announcement that the coalition leaders have adopted the ADC as their political platform for the 2027 election and that former Senate President David Mark and former Governor of Osun State Rauf Aregbesola have been appointed as the party’s interim national chairman and national secretary, respectively.
Opposition politicians pushing for a strong coalition met in Abuja on Tuesday with some ADC leaders.
The meeting, which was attended by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President; David Mark, ex-Governor of Jigawa; Sule Lamido, Uche Secondus; Babangida Aliyu, former Governor of Niger State; Sam Egwu, former Governor of Ebonyi; Aminu Tambuwal, former Governor of Sokoto; and Liyel Imoke, former Governor of Cross River, led to the adoption of the ADC as the coalition’splatform for 2027 election. The coalition also announced Bolaji Abdullahi, a former minister of sports, as its spokesperson.
The statement by the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, also rejected the letters of the coalition describing the development as a ‘hijack and an imposition,” adding also that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) did not ratify recent appointments into the party.
The statement added that “The claim that the ADC has become the ‘platform of the National Opposition Coalition Group’ is misleading.
“Our millions of members have not been informed or carried along in this so-called coalition.
“If anyone is attempting to force an opposition merger without grassroots consent, they are trampling on democratic ethics and party sovereignty.
The group warned those trooping into the party under a coalition arrangement to beware that the ADC has been “battling unresolved legal crises since the 2023 general elections.
“These matters remain in court and unresolved. Any coalition attempt built on such shaky legal ground is irresponsible and potentially self-destructive,” the faction stated.
For a better society
Follow us across our platforms:
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/championnewsonline/
Facebook – https://web.facebook.com/championnewsonline
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/champion-newspapers-limited/
https://x.com/championnewsng/
You can also like and comment on our YouTube videos.
https://youtu.be/QIBfD1tT80w?si=R4Qf3so2LxYu3GC2
