A faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by its 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, has announced plans to hold a national convention and install an interim leadership to run the party’s affairs.
CANDID REPORTERS gathered that the decision was made known on Tuesday in Abuja by the group’s spokesperson, Norman Obinna, after what he described as an emergency National Executive Committee meeting attended by state chairmen and other members.
He said the meeting was called to address the ongoing leadership crisis in the party.
Obinna explained that earlier dispute resolution talks had produced an agreement that the party would organise a national convention to elect a new leadership.
He said this step has not been carried out for almost two years, leaving the party without a proper structure.
He also accused the former leadership under Ralph Nwosu of trying to hand over control of the party to individuals who were not members, while also making moves to remove state chairmen who did not align with them.
The group said it had already taken legal action to challenge those moves before the recent stance of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
It added that since there has been no National Working Committee since August 2022, the NEC remains the highest decision-making body in the party.
As part of its resolutions, the faction distanced the party from a coalition linked to political figures such as David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola and Bolaji Abdullahi, stating that actions taken by the group in the name of the party are not valid.
It also dismissed claims by Nafiu Bala Gombe to any leadership role, insisting he has never held the position of deputy national chairman.
The faction maintained that the party belongs to all Nigerians and not a select group, accusing the opposing camp of trying to take control at the expense of long-standing members.
It reaffirmed that Kachikwu remains a recognized member of the party.
The group further called on diplomatic missions in Nigeria not to deal with the rival coalition as representatives of the party.
It also announced the appointment of interim leaders to manage daily activities until a new National Working Committee is elected at the planned convention, and asked INEC to recognise the arrangement.
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