The Concerned State Chairmen of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reject what they described as an attempt to impose an “illegal change of leadership” within the party.
At a press briefing in Abuja, the group, led by Elias Adokwu and Godwin Alaku, strongly condemned the alleged political manoeuvres by a coalition led by former Senate President David Mark, labelling the move a “civilian coup” against the party’s founding ideals and democratic values.
According to the chairmen, the attempt to alter the party’s leadership structure through what they described as “backdoor dealings” was not only unconstitutional but also a grave threat to democratic norms in Nigeria.
“This is not about political ideology or party reconciliation. It is a blatant hijack of the ADC platform by a self-styled cabal operating outside legal and democratic processes,” the group stated.
They accused the alleged coalition of lacking genuine commitment to democracy, recalling past controversial remarks by some individuals now involved in the leadership crisis.
“Nigerians must not forget the warning made by one of these individuals in 2011, who said, ‘If peaceful change is not possible, violent change is inevitable.’ Such dangerous mindsets must not be allowed to thrive again,” the chairmen warned.
They further described the attempted takeover as “illegal, illegitimate and unacceptable,” claiming it is aimed at destroying the party with selfish political interests.
The forum emphasised that the ADC remains committed to democratic principles, ideological discipline, and the rule of law.
“We are not a dumping ground for discredited politicians. The ADC is not for sale, not for hijack, and will never accommodate political mercenaries or ideological impostors,” they declared.
They also challenged members of the said coalition to publicly state their contributions to Nigeria’s democratic growth and explain their sudden interest in the affairs of the ADC.
The chairmen urged INEC to stand firm and resist any pressure to endorse what they termed an illegitimate leadership change.
They also called on civil society organisations, the Nigerian public, and international observers to closely monitor the situation and help safeguard the nation’s democratic institutions.
The group urged law enforcement agencies to investigate any unlawful attempts to disrupt political order under the guise of coalition activities.
The chairmen dismissed recent allegations made by Ralph Nwosu, another prominent figure in the crisis, describing them as baseless and self-serving.
“If anything happens to me or any other distinguished chairman of our great party, Nigerians should not look far,” the group warned.
They reaffirmed their commitment to defending democracy and protecting the soul of the ADC from what they described as desperate political adventurers.
