African Democratic Congress (ADC) has committed to engaging with disgruntled members while firmly opposing those with “hidden agendas” aimed at undermining the party’s stability.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Saturday, the ADC’s interim National Publicity Secretary, Bola Abdullahi, accused certain political operatives of orchestrating efforts to destabilize the opposition, drawing parallels to challenges faced by the PDP, Labour Party (LP), and Social Democratic Party (SDP)
“We’ve seen individuals, including some in leadership roles, step down voluntarily, while others have raised concerns about the party,” Abdullahi stated.
He emphasized that the ADC has addressed legitimate complaints effectively but will not tolerate actions driven by “clear ulterior motives to destabilize the party.”
Abdullahi underscored the party’s cohesion, declaring, “The ADC remains united, with no factions.”
He highlighted that the new leadership was elected during the 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, which was observed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in compliance with legal standards.
Refuting claims of a court order halting the leadership’s activities, Abdullahi called such reports “false and misleading,” accusing “agents of destabilization” of attempting to sabotage the ADC’s new coalition.
“The court only declined a specific request and summoned us for a hearing on September 15. INEC has already validated our leadership,” he clarified.
The party spokesperson expressed confidence in moving forward, stating, “We’ve made our decisions and are focused on strengthening our party.”
With INEC’s recognition, Abdullahi noted that leaders like Sen. David Mark and Mr. Rauf Aregbesola are now authorized to issue membership cards.
Addressing remarks by the 2023 ADC presidential candidate, Dr. Dumebi Kachikwu, who labeled the new leadership as “retired politicians,” Abdullahi dismissed the criticism, arguing that Kachikwu, no longer a party member, lacks the standing to comment on ADC affairs.
Abdullahi also urged the public not to judge the ADC based on its recent by-election performance, which followed a leadership transition.
“The by-election result does not reflect our true potential. The ruling party will be surprised in future elections,” he asserted.
Commenting on the current administration’s performance, Abdullahi called for transparency in reporting statistics on appointments, projects, and programs. He argued that the government’s direction, rather than the duration of its tenure, is the critical factor in evaluating its success.
“Some leaders have achieved remarkable results within a single term,” he added.
