Three members of the African Democratic Congress, (ADC), have filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge the interim leadership of former Senate President David Mark and others.
The party’s National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, resigned to pave the way for the one-time senate president, former Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary and former Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi as National Publicity Secretary – all of them on interim capacities.
In suit FHC/ABJ/CS/1328/2025 filed on July 4, Adeyemi Emmanuel, Ayodeji Victor Tolu and Haruna Ismaila, are asking the court to determine the legality of the interim leadership.
They averred that Nwosu lacks the right to convene either a national working committee (NWC) or national executive committee (NEC) meeting or any other since his tenure as national chairman has expired.
The plaintiffs also stated that interim executives “cannot and should not act” in a leadership capacity, noting that they were appointed by an illegal meeting organised by a former national chairman.
They are asking the court to declare the appointment of Mark, Aregbesola, and Abdullahi as “unconstitutional, unlawful, null, and void”.
The plaintiffs also prayed the court for an order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the new executives.
Why LP will support Obi for ADC ticket, by Usman-faction
PETER OBI has what it takes to secure the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential ticket, Interim National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, said yesterday.
He believes the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election is the man to beat.
Tanko told DECENCY GLOBAL NEWS that Obi was the only aspirant with over 10 million youth votes ahead of the election.
Obi, last Wednesday, joined former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to unveil the ADC as a coalition platform.
Tanko warned against denying Obi the ADC ticket for “selfish reasons.”
He said: “Obi has more than what it takes to get the ticket of the ADC or any political party that’s willing to take him as their presidential candidate.
“You can’t toy with a candidate who has over 10 million votes of the Nigerian youths.
“You can’t toy with somebody who has been able to make contact and connect with the people – North, West, South and East.
“You can’t toy with somebody whose popularity is beyond measure in and out of the world. He is a candidate to beat; he is the candidate people are yearning for.”
The Julius Abure-led LP faction said the party was open to every Nigerian seeking to contest elections on its platform.
National Publicity Secretary of the faction, Obiora Ifoh, said: “The Labour Party is an inclusive party that is open to everybody.We are not stopping anybody from contesting elections (on our platform). Anybody that has interest can come to the LP.”
Basiru knocks Atiku over coalition
The National Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, said the ADC leadership change was illegal.
He told DECENCY GLOBAL NEWS “Nigerians need to be properly educated. There is nothing like a coalition.
“People who are talking about coalition appear either to want to confuse Nigerian people or they are ignorant of what a coalition is about.
“A coalition is a temporary alliance to form a government and it is more apposite in the context of the parliamentary system when none of the parties that contested could form a majority, so two or more parties will coalesce to have a majority.
“In a presidential system, the term coalition is inappropriate and it is an attempt to create an atmosphere of grandiose where there is none.
“It is appropriate to say that certain individuals have become frustrated in their political party and have started to defect to the ADC.”
He dispelled the insinuation that APC is in panic mode over the coalition.
“As of today, you may go to the website of the INEC, nothing has changed in terms of the leadership structure of the ADC, notwithstanding the jamboree that they are talking about.
“There are procedures in the culture of any party as to how people assume leadership.
“You cannot say you are a protem chairman or national secretary of a political party that is already in existence. It’s either you are a substantive chairman or you are an acting chairman.
“The term ‘protem’ is used when a political party is still in formation. The ADC has been a party that has been registered before.
“So, if you are becoming an acting chairman or acting secretary, what is the procedure for which you have emerged?
“When you have an assemblage of people who are not even members of that political party, to say that you have assumed leadership, I think it’s more of a circus show.”
Basiru also dismissed PDP’s chances, saying: “The PDP is a sinking platform and the fact that Atiku Abubakar, who was the presidential candidate of the party, had himself go to join ADC is a vote of no confidence in PDP.”
‘ADC undergoing restructuring’
ADC Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Dr. Ibrahim Mani, dismissed claims that the party has been sold following its recent adoption by a major political coalition.
Speaking in a television interview, Mani stressed that the party remains independent and is undergoing significant restructuring to accommodate the influx of new members while safeguarding its core values.
He said: “There is no truth to the notion that the ADC is being bought. We’ve built this party for over two decades and have made it clear that our politics is not transactional. What we’re witnessing is a political realignment, not a sale.”
Mani said negotiations with the coalition leaders began more than a year and a half ago, with early requests to purchase the party outright being rejected.
“We told them outright that we are not selling the party. Instead, they could infuse into our structure and help build the platform as a true alternative to the existing political order.
“What we’re building is not just a political platform, but a new movement. The party isn’t being bought, it’s being rebuilt, and this is only the beginning,” he said.
Oyebanji: no plan to dump APC for ADC
Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji denied speculations linking him and some APC leaders in the state with a possible defection to the ADC.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, Oyebanji said he was not joining ADC, reaffirming his commitment to the APC.
“For the avoidance of doubt Oyebanji and the public office holders mentioned in the report, remain firmly rooted in the APC and have no link, neither do they have any plan whatsoever to join the ADC,” the statement said.
