A coalition of State Chairmen of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has appointed a new steering committee to oversee the party’s national convention, dismissing the rival faction led by former Senate President David Mark. The decision was announced on Tuesday afternoon in Abuja during a world press conference attended by the party’s chairmen from state chapters.
The coalition described the move as a last resort to prevent the “total collapse” of the ADC, which has been plagued by internal leadership disputes in recent months. The coalition unveiled the following members to manage the party’s daily affairs pending the election of a new National Working Committee (NWC) at the upcoming convention:
Chairman, Ogga Temitope Kingsley (Kogi State), Secretary, Odion O. Kennedy (Edo State), Deputy Chairman, Muhammad Khala Jidda (Borno State), and Assistant Secretary, Kabiru Hussaini (Jigawa State).
Others are National Organizing Secretary, Dr. Charles Idowu Omidiji (Osun State), Deputy Organizing Secretary, Johnny Tovi Derek (Bayelsa State), Treasurer, Stella Chukwuma (Enugu State) and Publicity Secretary, Don Norman Obinna (Abia State).
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, the chairmen warned all embassies and high commissions in Nigeria to disregard the David Mark-led group, insisting that the former Senate President’s faction does not represent the ADC.
“We put on notice all embassies and high commissions in Nigeria that the David Mark-led coalition are not members of the ADC and do not speak for the ADC,” the chairmen said.
They also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accord the newly appointed steering committee the necessary recognition and support. “We wish them success and urge INEC to accord them the necessary recognition and support in order to save the African Democratic Congress from total collapse,” the chairmen added.
The ADC has faces protracted internal crises, with multiple factions laying claim to the party’s leadership. The David Mark-led coalition emerged after the former Senate President and some party chieftains broke away from the leadership of Chief Ralph Nwosu. Tuesday’s development signals a fresh push by the state chairmen to wrest control of the party ahead of the next electoral cycle.
