A faction of the African Democratic Congress, on Friday, dismissed claims to its leadership by former Senate President David Mark and others who recently took over the opposition coalition platform.
According to the ADC faction, this clarification became necessary following the resignation of Chief Ralph Nwosu as National Chairman.
The party said this development has triggered a constitutional process for appointing Nwosu’s successor.
The ADC faction in a statement by Dr. Aminu Sani Alhassan, Special Assistant (Public Affairs) to the factional Interim National Chairman, Nafiu Bala, emohasised that only bonafide members of the party can aspire to you its leadership positions.
According to the statement, “In light of the resignation of Chief Ralph Nwosu, it has come to our attention that certain individuals, notably David Mark and his associates, have attempted to assert claims of leadership that are not only unfounded but also contrary to the principles and constitution of our party.
“First and foremost, it is essential to clarify that the resignation of Chief Ralph Nwosu did not create a free-for-all scenario within the ADC. Instead, it has opened a necessary dialogue regarding the future of our leadership, a dialogue that must be conducted within the framework established by our party’s constitution.
“The ADC’s constitution is unequivocal in stipulating that any individual seeking to assume a leadership role must first be a bona fide member of the party. This fundamental requirement cannot be overlooked or circumvented by any means.
“In accordance with the ADC’s constitution, the appropriate procedure for filling the leadership vacuum left by Chief Nwosu’s departure is through a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.”
The statement also reaffirmed Nafiu Bala as the party’s legitimate national chairman, urging its members to remain calm and united.
The ADC faction also expressed confidence in INEC’s ability to uphold constitutional and democratic norms in political party affairs.
It added, “This meeting will serve as the legitimate forum for deliberating on the way forward and will be followed by ratification at subsequent levels of party convention. It is here that we will ensure that our party’s leadership is determined by those who are genuinely committed to the ideals and objectives of the ADC.
“We would like to emphasise that there is no provision in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regulations, the Federal Constitution, or the ADC’s constitution that permits an individual to assume leadership without fulfilling the requisite criteria of membership and democratic process.
“The actions being taken by David Mark and his cohort are not only a misinterpretation of our party’s governance structure but also a blatant disregard for the democratic principles that the ADC stands for.
The statement further said, “To our loyal and dedicated members, we urge you to remain calm and focused during this time of transition. The progress we have made as a party is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our genuine members.
“We must not allow ourselves to be distracted or disheartened by the antics of those who seek to disrupt our unity and progress. The ADC is a party built on the foundations of integrity, accountability, and democratic values, and we must collectively uphold these principles.
“As we navigate this period, we also wish to reaffirm our confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). We trust in its commitment to upholding constitutionalism and ensuring that the democratic processes within political parties are respected and adhered to. The ADC remains dedicated to collaborating with INEC to foster a political environment that is conducive to fair play and democratic engagement.
“In conclusion, we stand firmly behind Alhaji Nafiu as the legitimate National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress. His leadership will be instrumental in guiding our party through this transitional phase, and we are confident that he will uphold the values that our members hold dear. We call on all genuine members of the ADC to rally behind Alhaji Nafiu and to work collectively towards the betterment of our party and the communities we serve.”
