The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has officially dismissed circulating claims that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declined to recognize the party’s newly appointed leadership under the guidance of Senator David Mark. According to a strong statement released by the party, such allegations are completely untrue and misleading. Senator David Mark, a respected statesman and former President of the Senate, was recently appointed as the Interim National Chairman of the ADC. Alongside him, several vibrant and visionary young Nigerians were elected into the National Working Committee (NWC), signaling a new era of progressive political leadership for the party. In adherence to due process, the ADC promptly submitted the details of its new leadership structure to INEC, as captured in the official documentation of the party’s 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. This move was part of the standard political protocol to inform the electoral umpire of changes in the party’s hierarchy. Despite this clear submission, a series of unverified reports emerged across social media platforms, claiming that INEC had rejected the ADC’s new leadership. The false narrative quickly gained traction, raising concerns among supporters and the general public about the legitimacy of Senator Mark’s appointment. However, Bolaji Abdullahi, the National Publicity Secretary of ADC, issued a categorical denial of these claims. Taking to his official handle on X (formerly Twitter), he clarified the party’s stance and urged Nigerians to remain focused and vigilant against political misinformation. “The attention of ADC has been drawn to a story circulating that the @inecnigeria has refused to recognise the new leadership of our party under the Distinguished Senator David Mark.This story is entirely false and should be ignored,” Abdullahi wrote. He further stressed the importance of unity and collective action, encouraging Nigerians to pay no attention to distractions aimed at destabilizing the party’s progress. “We urge Nigerian people to ignore such misleading reports from any quarters and stay focused on mobilising the long suffering people of Nigeria for the great task to save our dear country,” he added. The ADC reaffirmed its commitment to restructuring its internal processes, building democratic values, and providing a viable political alternative for Nigerians who seek transformation and credible leadership. With Senator David Mark at the helm, the party is poised to play a more significant role in national development and political discourse.
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has strongly criticized certain members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for collaborating with the emerging opposition coalition which recently adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its political vehicle. During his speech at the PDP Stakeholders Conference held on Wednesday in Abuja, the governor made it clear that individuals cannot claim dual political loyalty. He emphasized that one cannot maintain membership in the PDP while simultaneously aligning with another political coalition. Mohammed, who also serves as the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, stated that the party must address what he described as a growing trend of indiscipline among some members. According to him, party loyalty must be singular and undivided. “Indiscipline cannot be normalized to the extent that it spreads like a disease. Being in PDP means you’re committed to PDP alone. You cannot have one foot in PDP and the other in a coalition or another party,” Governor Mohammed declared. He continued by describing the idea of forming or joining a coalition while still in the PDP as abnormal, stressing that such dual loyalty is incompatible with political integrity. “We won’t tolerate this. Coalition membership while being in PDP is a political anomaly. That’s my position. You can’t hold dual allegiance. Politically speaking, you can’t be both male and female—you must choose one identity,” he asserted. Several of the founding members of the PDP supported the governor’s remarks, affirming that no one should profess loyalty to the party while simultaneously promoting the agenda of rival political movements. According to a report by LMSINT MEDIA, the PDP has been entangled in internal disputes for more than two years. The latest fallout occurred last week when its 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, officially withdrew from the party. The former Vice President cited irreconcilable differences as the reason behind his exit, stating that the party’s current direction sharply contrasts with the original principles and values upon which it was founded. In a related development, former Senate President David Mark also left the PDP prior to Abubakar’s resignation. Mark has now been appointed the interim chairman of the ADC, the platform chosen by the newly formed opposition coalition.
