The internal crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) escalated on Tuesday as a forum of state chairmen of the party strongly condemned an alleged takeover attempt led by former Senate President and Interim National Chairman, Senator David Mark.
In a strongly worded statement jointly signed by the forum’s leader, Elias Adokwu, and Publicity Secretary Godwin Alaku, and titled “Rejecting the Political Junta by Defending ADC and Nigeria’s Democracy Against Subversion”, the chairmen described the move as a “blatant and reckless subversion” of both the ADC and the country’s democratic values.
“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,” the statement read.
“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 group accused the coalition of attempting to hijack the party through unconstitutional means, citing manipulation and secret dealings that betray the principles on which the ADC was founded.
They warned that the actions of the coalition were not a genuine political realignment, but rather the agenda of a “civilian junta” trying to seize control of the party outside democratic processes.
“It is an insult to all those who believe in and have laboured for democratic governance in Nigeria,” they declared.
Further, the chairmen accused the group of promoting selfish ambitions and trying to fracture the democratic process through external inducements and illegitimate influence.
Despite the internal tensions, the chairmen reiterated their loyalty to the party’s founding principles including democracy, ideological clarity, the rule of law, and peaceful political engagement.
“The ADC will never be a platform for political mercenaries or ideological impostors,” they said.
“The ADC is not for sale, not for hijack, and certainly not a dumping ground for discredited power brokers.”
They challenged the coalition to prove their electoral worth and ideological identity, suggesting that those behind the attempted takeover lacked genuine support among party faithful or the electorate.
In a call to action, the state chairmen urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reject any attempt to legitimize the “illegitimate junta.”
They also called on Nigerians and civil society to rise against what they termed “creeping authoritarianism”, and demanded that law enforcement agencies investigate the unlawful move to destabilize the party.
“We, the legitimate custodians of the ADC structure across all states of the federation, reject this illegitimate junta,” they stated.
“We consider it our patriotic duty to defend the soul of the ADC and protect the sanctity of democratic structures in Nigeria.”
