Political heavyweights may need to find new party after old ADC members hold Abuja rally

NIGERIA's main  opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may have to create a new political party ahead of next year's elections after members of the platform they created the African Democratic Congress (ADC) protested in Abuja today.      

In August last year, the new opposition coalition the ADC was floated with a leaderships that included several political heavyweights including ex-vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, former senate leader David Mark and former ministers Rauf Aregbesola and Rotimi Amaechi. However, the ADC had already been in existence before last year and its former leadership have got to court, saying they want to reclaim their party.

Last week, Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) removed Senator mark and Mr Aregbesola from its portal as the ADC chairman and secretary respectively after the ADC secured a court ruling that Nafiu Bala remained its chairman. According to the old ADC members, at no stage did they hand over the leadership of their party  to these new members.

Earlier today, these old members led by Mr Bala took to the streets in Abuja, calling on the heavyweight opposition leaders to stay away from their party. Mr Bala who was joined by ADC House of Representatives member, Hon Leke Abejide, as they marched with supporters carrying placards with various inscriptions, accused the political figures of attempting to hijack the party.

Today's demonstration was a counter protest after an earlier one yesterday led by the David Mark faction of the party marched on Inec's headquarters. Addressing Inec officials during the protest, Mr Bala insisted that due process must be followed in resolving the leadership dispute.

Mr Bala said: “We are here to urge Inec to follow due process. You cannot come to the ADC through the window and expect to overturn the owners of the ADC. As democrats, we don’t want any moneybags to come and destroy democracy as the ADC is for all Nigerians from wards, states to national levels.”

Hon Abejide called on the commission to resist what he described as an attempted takeover of the party, stressing that the ADC constitution clearly outlines eligibility requirements for leadership positions. He added: “We are here to urge Inec to do the right thing and rescue democracy from the hands of usurpers.

"How do you come to a party and attempt to hijack the leadership on the same day? Which political platform is that done? The party constitution is clear about this. You have to spend at least two years in the ADC as an active member before you can aspire for any position.

"It is clear that the commission has not erred. These people are hijackers and Inec must follow through on reverting to status quo ante bellum by recognising Nafiu Bala Gombe as the national chairman of the party."

Responding on behalf of the commission, Inec national commissioner, Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, assured the protesters that their concerns would be reviewed. He added: “I am here on behalf of the chairman and I believe Inec as a commission will look at your letter and give you feedback. Thank you for being orderly with your protest.”