Factional ADC chieftains file lawsuit, BoT Chair says “the party isn’t being bought, it’s being rebuilt, and this is only the beginning”
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
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“We told them [coalition promoters] outright that we are not selling the party. Instead, they could infuse into our structure and help build the platform as a true alternative to the existing political order.
“What we’re building is not just a political platform, but a new movement. The party isn’t being bought, it’s being rebuilt, and this is only the beginning” – ADC BoT ChairIbrahim Mani
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Some factional African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftains have filed a lawsuit to challenge the interim leadership of former Senate President David Mark and others in the coalition now in charge of the party.
ADC National Chairman Ralph Nwosu resigned to enable Mark replace him based on new opposition coalition which has adopted the party as its platform to contest for the 2027 presidential election against the sitting Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Mark operates in an acting capacity in the arrangement, as well as former Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola (National Secretary) and former Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi (National Publicity Secretary).
But three factional ADC chieftains – Adeyemi Emmanuel, Ayodeji Tolu, and Haruna Ismaila – are asking the Federal High Court, Abuja in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1328/2025 filed on July 4 to determine the legality of the interim leadership.
They also argued that:
- Nwosu lacks the right to convene a National Working Committee (NWC) or National Executive Committee (NEC) or any other meeting of the ADC since his tenure as National Chairman has expired.
- Interim executives “cannot and should not act” in a leadership capacity, particularly as they were appointed by an illegal meeting organised by a former National Chairman.
- The court should declare the appointments of Mark, Aregbesola, and Abdullahi as “unconstitutional, unlawful, null, and void”.
- The court should grant an order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the new executives.
Regardless, Obidient Movement interim National Coordinator, Yunusa Tanko, has stressed that Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) has what it takes to secure the ADC presidential ticket and go head-to-head with Tinubu in the 2027 fight for the Villa.
Tanko told The Nation that Obi is the only aspirant sure of over 10 million youth votes on the ground.
His words: “Obi has more than what it takes to get the ticket of the ADC or any political party that’s willing to take him as their presidential candidate.
“You can’t toy with a candidate who has over 10 million votes of the Nigerian youths.
“You can’t toy with somebody who has been able to make contact and connect with the people – North, West, South, and East.
“You can’t toy with somebody whose popularity is beyond measure in and out of the world. He is a candidate to beat; he is the candidate people are yearning for.”
Basiru knocks Atiku over coalition
APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru countered that the ADC leadership change is illegal.
“Nigerians need to be properly educated. There is nothing like a coalition,” he said.
“People who are talking about coalition appear either to want to confuse Nigerian people or they are ignorant of what a coalition is about.
“A coalition is a temporary alliance to form a government and it is more apposite in the context of the parliamentary system when none of the parties that contested could form a majority, so two or more parties will coalesce to have a majority.
“In a presidential system, the term coalition is inappropriate and it is an attempt to create an atmosphere of grandiose where there is none.
“It is appropriate to say that certain individuals have become frustrated in their political party and have started to defect to the ADC.
“As of today, you may go to the website of the INEC, nothing has changed in terms of the leadership structure of the ADC, notwithstanding the jamboree that they are talking about.
“There are procedures in the culture of any party as to how people assume leadership.
“You cannot say you are a protem Chairman or National Secretary of a political party that is already in existence. It’s either you are a substantive Chairman or you are an acting chairman.
“The term ‘protem’ is used when a political party is still in formation. The ADC has been a party that has been registered before.
“So, if you are becoming an acting Chairman or acting Secretary, what is the procedure for which you have emerged?
“When you have an assemblage of people who are not even members of that political party, to say that you have assumed leadership, I think it’s more of a circus show.”
ADC undergoing restructuring, says BoT Chair Mani
ADC Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman Ibrahim Mani clarified that “There is no truth to the notion that the ADC is being bought. We’ve built this party for over two decades and have made it clear that our politics is not transactional.
“What we’re witnessing is a political realignment, not a sale.”
Mani said negotiations with the coalition leaders began more than a year and a half ago, with early requests to purchase the party outright being rejected.
“We told them outright that we are not selling the party. Instead, they could infuse into our structure and help build the platform as a true alternative to the existing political order.
“What we’re building is not just a political platform, but a new movement. The party isn’t being bought, it’s being rebuilt, and this is only the beginning.”
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