ADC crisis deepens as state chairmen disown David Mark, Nafiu Bala
ADC
Say Ex-Senate President and Bala “hijacked” party from “bonafide” members
Emeka Agu with agency report
The crisis in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) deepened on Tuesday with State chairmen of the party supporting the decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to derecognise the Senator David Mark leadership following an interim ruling by the appeal court.
The chairman of the party in Abia State, Don Norman Obinna, who disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja, said the state chairmen no longer support both the David Mark group and the Nafiu Bala Gombe group in the party.
He added that Mark and Bala “hijacked” the party from the “bonafide” members.
Obinna explained that the decision was taken after a National Executive Committee meeting the Forum of State chairmen held in Abuja on Tuesday. He stood with other state chairmen while addressing the media.
He said: “We disassociate the ADC from David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, 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 bonafide member of our party whose purported expulsion by the David Mark-led group was an act of desperation taken too far.”
He added: “We are in total support of INEC in derecognising the David Mark-led faction.”
According to him, “ADC has no faction; we are the legal leadership.”
The forum announced an interim committee to oversee the party’s activities pending a national convention.
Members of the committee include Ogga Kingsley (acting chairman), Odion Kennedy (secretary), Muhammad Jidda (deputy chairman), Kabiru Hussaini (assistant secretary), Charles Omidji (national organising secretary), Johnny Derek (deputy organising secretary), Stella Chukwuma (treasurer), Obinna (publicity secretary), and Samuel Gyang (financial secretary).
