News2023: ADC Swims in Crisis

2023: ADC Swims in Crisis

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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has been in the news in the last few days. The party appears to be enmeshed in a crisis that may hinder its chances of a successful outing in the 2023 general election.

The genesis of the crisis was the decision of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party to appoint an Interim Caretaker Committee to steer the ship of the party after the alleged expiration of the Ralph Nwosu-led National Working Committee (NWC) on August 28, 2022.

The raging leadership tussle between the faction loyal to the party’s presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu and that of the party’s chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, has threatened the peace of the party in the past weeks.

The problem started when it was alleged that Nwosu was scheming to perpetuate himself in office, despite serving as national chairman of the party for 17 years, as against the constitutional prescription of eight years.

However, Nwosu argued that since the constitution of the party was amended in 2018 and as a result, his first four-year tenure started in 2018, it was within his constitutional right to contest again for the chairmanship position.

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the party recently gave its NWC, under the leadership of Nwosu, a one-year tenure extension to allow the party’s leadership focus on campaign activities across the country.

Ralph Nwosu

The event, according to the party, was witnessed by the representative of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This decision was however opposed by the ADC State Chairmen who described the tenure elongation as illegal and vowed to resist it with their last blood.

The ADC Chairmen Forum wrote a petition, which was addressed to INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu and dated August 29, 2022, declaring the tenure extension illegal and unacceptable.

The Forum claimed in a petition jointly signed by its Chairman, Hon. Kingsely Ogga and Secretary, Hon. Odion Osas, that the meeting where the tenure of the NEC was extended was overcrowded with unknown persons and miscreants.

It pointed out that Article 24 A of the constitution of ADC, 2018 (as amended) provides that the NWC can only be voted in through a national convention and it is only a national convention that can extend their tenure.

The forum said it was important to state that what transpired on August 26, 2022 at the ADC secretariat was fake, unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect.

It therefore called on INEC to disregard such illegalities and prevail on ADC to convene a convention for the purpose of electing a new NWC.

A few days after the tenure of the Nwosu-led faction was extended by a year, the party’s presidential candidate, Kachikwu was suspended from the party.

Dumebi

The party said the decision was taken after an emergency National Working Committee (NWC) meeting held on Friday, 2nd September, 2022.

The party stated categorically that it considered Kachikwu’s action as, “smacks of crass irresponsibility, gross indiscipline, disingenuous scandalization and blackmail, and completely unfit of someone who wants to be President of Nigeria.”

ADC noted that the NWC viewed with great concern the baseless and defamatory video made, published and circulated by Kachikwu, which it said was intended to disparage and impugn the integrity and image of a peaceful and transformation oriented ADC and its national officers.

The party leadership was of the opinion said attempt to demean the character of the founders and financiers of ADC, who have worked tirelessly to build an enviable brand that Nigerians are proud of, and which many great minds have stood elections; smacks of crass irresponsibility, gross indiscipline, disingenuous scandalization and blackmail, and completely unfit of someone who wants to be President of Nigeria.

Moreso, the party’s NWC pointed out that since the 9th of June 2022 when Kachikwu was elected the presidential candidate, he has failed, neglected and refused to share with the party any meaningful, constructive or reasonable Presidential Campaign Roadmap for the forthcoming presidential election.

To this end, the Nwosu-led faction said the resolution on Kachikwu’s suspension would be forwarded to the National Executive Council for further actions.

In another breath and as part of plans to ensure the Nwosu-led NWC is kicked out, the party’s NEC constituted an eight-man Caretaker Committee to pilot the affairs of the party.

The party’s NEC said the appointment of the Caretaker Committee followed the expiration of the tenure of Nwosu-led NWC of the party.

The party noted that the main terms of reference of the new interim leadership of the party was to plan and conduct a National Convention to elect substantive national officers within the next six weeks.

The party said the newly appointed Caretaker Committee would be chaired by Senator Patricia Akwashiki who is the current chairman of the Board of Trustees, while Hon. Kennedy Odion has been made the Secretary.

Other members of the new interim national leadership of the ADC include, Ms Angela Johnson, Professor Kabiru Dangogo, Manzo Ibrahim, Hon. Lesanmi Omolayo, Hon Kingsley Temitope Ogga and Emma Dibia as legal Adviser.

But in a swift reaction, ADC National Director of Communications and Programmes, Ifenla Oligbinde, described the action as desperate.

Last Wednesday, ADC appointed its presidential candidate for the 2015 general elections, Dr. Mani Ibrahim Ahmed, the new Board of Trustees (BOT) chairman.

The decision, which flowed from resolution of the National Working Committee (NWC) and critical stakeholders’ meeting, held in Abuja, followed the suspension of former National Vice Chairman (North East) of the party, Alhaji Ibrahim Manzo.

National Chairman, Chief Ralphs Nwosu, in a statement, also suspended 17 state chairmen for anti-party activities, denigrating conduct and utterances in contravention of Article 15 of the party constitution.

The affected chairmen include: Kingsley Temitope Oggah (Kogi); Kennedy Odion (Edo); Auwal Abba Barde (Gombe); Leader Sampson (Rivers); Johnny Tovie Derek (Bayelsa) and Elias Adikwu (Benue).

Others are Ilesanmi Omolayo Joel (Ekiti); Kabiru Hussaini (Jigawa); Patrick Ambut (Kaduna); Emmanuel Dibia (Delta); Clement Ehigiator (FCT); Alhaji Musa Hassan (Niger); Alaka Godwin William (Nasarawa); Samuel Gyang (Plateau); Bala Suffiayanu (Kebbi); Bello Isiyaku (Sokoto) and Muhammed Khala Jidda (Borno).

The party said their replacements would be announced in due course; Nwosu explained that former Abia State chairman of the party, Don Norman, had been expelled. He advised all National Assembly candidates to collect their Certificates of Return (CoRs) on September 12.

Nwosu also said the suspension placed on the party’s candidate for the 2023 elections, Dumebi Kachikwu, has not been lifted.

He said he regretted that although Kachikwu emerged from a free and fair presidential primary, the presidential candidate “has done nothing to show that he is actually prepared to contest the February 25, 2023 election.” He decried “Kachikwu’s attempts to cause confusion in ADC.”

Nwosu assured that ADC would live up to billing as a “truly democratic party and credible alternative to the two other destitute parties that have plunged Nigeria into debt, darkness and insecurity.”

About the Author

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AYO ESAN, has been actively reporting and analyzing political events for different newspapers for over 18 years. He has also successfully covered national and state elections in Nigeria since the inception of this democracy in 1999.

Ayo Esan, THEWILLhttps://thewillnews.com
AYO ESAN, has been actively reporting and analyzing political events for different newspapers for over 18 years. He has also successfully covered national and state elections in Nigeria since the inception of this democracy in 1999.

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