David Mark’s alleged hijack of ADC sparks outrage from State Chairmen
The State Chairmen of African Democratic Congress has appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to refuse recognition of a coalition they described as an “unlawful and illegitimate junta”, led by David. Mark.
The chairmen further urged Nigerians and civil society organisations to stand against any form of creeping authoritarianism and pressed security agencies to investigate the alleged illegal plot to destabilise the party.
Identifying themselves as the rightful custodians of the ADC’s structure in every state of the federation, the chairmen vowed to resist any attempt to usurp the party’s leadership.
They pledged to safeguard the integrity of the ADC and uphold the sanctity of Nigeria’s democratic institutions, declaring it a patriotic duty to defend the party’s soul from what they see as an unlawful takeover.
The Concerned State Chairmen of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued a scathing condemnation of what they describe as an “orchestrated political coup” by a coalition led by Senator David Mark, labelling it a “blatant and reckless subversion” of the party and Nigeria’s democratic norms,” the statement said.
Among their grievances, the chairmen accused the coalition of plotting an unconstitutional hijack of the ADC through “manipulation and backdoor dealings.”
“We unequivocally condemn in the strongest terms this desperate power grab, which represents not only an aberration of democratic norms but also a grave assault on our collective political values as a nation,” the chairman said.
Dismissing the move as a mere disguise for selfish ambition, the. ADC chairmen warned that it was not a realignment of political ideology but a “civilian junta” attempting to seize control outside legal and democratic processes.
They further described the attempted takeover as an insult to all those who believe in and have laboured for democratic governance in Nigeria.”
The aggrieved politicians accused the coalition of working to fracture the democratic process through selfish ambition and extra-party inducements.
The statement, however, reaffirmed the party’s commitment to democratic principles, the rule of law, ideological clarity, and peaceful political engagement, stressing that the ADC would never be a platform for “political mercenaries or ideological impostors.”
They also challenged the coalition to reveal their true electoral worth, questioning their electoral value or ideological clarity.
“The ADC is not for sale, not for hijack, and certainly not a dumping ground for discredited power brokers,” the chairmen declared.
Similarly, the chairmen urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to reject any attempt to legitimise what they termed an “illegitimate junta.”
They also called on the Nigerian public and civil society to resist “creeping authoritarianism” and demanded that law enforcement agencies investigate the unlawful bid to destabilise the party.
