The leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by former Senate President David Mark and other members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), has held a strategic meeting with all the state chairmen of the party, including that of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
At the meeting which took place on Wednesday in Abuja, the 36 Chairmen and the FCT declared their support for the Senator David Mark led leadership, following growing speculations about internal divisions within the ADC, especially among the state Chapters.
Speaking after the meeting, Hon. Kingsley Ogga, Chairman of the ADC Forum of State Chairmen and the Kogi State party chairman, reaffirmed the support of the state chairmen for the interim leadership and the coalition.
He said, “We’ve been involved in this process for almost three years. Every step was deliberated together; nothing was done in isolation. All of us were carried along. So, the allegiance of all the state chairmen is with the current leadership,” Ogga said.
Responding to a question on whether any state chairman might step down in light of the coalition’s reorganisation, Ogga said while individuals are free to hold personal views, none had opposed the new leadership.
“Maybe someone might feel differently, but nobody has come out to say so or go against what we are doing,” he said.
Also addressing journalists after the closed-door meeting, ADC’s spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the leadership invited all the state chairmen to reassure them that “we have no intention to shove them aside. The purpose is to dispel all the falsehood and rumours making the rounds that we came to hijack the party.”
Abdullahi said the ADC leadership was committed to an inclusive process, describing the state chairmen as “partners in building a stronger political party.”
He said the meeting had succeeded in strengthening the confidence of party leaders across the states.
According to him, “They are leaving Abuja today more assured than ever that they are critical stakeholders in the future of the ADC.”
