The State Chairmen Forum of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has announced an interim committee to oversee the party’s activities, chaired by the Chairman of Kogi State, Kingsley Ogga pending a national convention.
The forum also rejected the warring party’s factions led by David Mark and Nafiu Bala.
Members of the committee include Ogga Kingsley (acting chairman), Odion Kennedy (secretary), Muhammad Jidda (deputy chairman), Kabiru Hussaini (assistant secretary), Charles Omidji (national organising secretary), Johnny Derek (deputy organising secretary), Stella Chukwuma (treasurer), Obinna (publicity secretary), and Samuel Gyang (financial secretary).
Speaking on behalf of the forum at a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja, Don Obinna, chairman of the ADC in Abia, said Mark and Bala “hijacked” the party from the “bonafide” members.
He backed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) decision to withdraw recognition from the Mark and Bala factions following an interim ruling by the appeal court.
Obinna said Dumebi Kachikwu, the party’s former presidential candidate, remains a member of the ADC, describing his expulsion as “an act of desperation taken too far”.
“We disassociate the ADC from David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, Bolaji Abdullahi, prof Osunbor and all members of the so-called coalition who attempted to hijack our party and state that all actions taken by them in the name of the ADC are not binding on the ADC,” Obinna said.
“We disassociate the ADC from the claims of Nafiu Gombe and firmly and unequivocally state that he has never held the position of deputy chairman of the ADC.
“The ADC remains a party of and for all Nigerians and not just for former political office holders and the elites. The ADC is also not for sale.
“The people who have called themselves the coalition have no democratic credentials and are only interested in a power grab, as evidenced by the way and manner in which they attempted to hijack our party and throw out the original members.
“We affirm that our former presidential candidate, Mr Dumebi Kachikwu, is a committed and bonafide member of our party whose purported expulsion by the David Mark-led group was an act of desperation taken too far.”
