With the national convention of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) scheduled to hold on Tuesday, April 14, Weekend Trust gathered that leaders of the party have devised means of rising above its current crisis.

The resolve involves a commitment by the party leaders not to defect to any other party, but to stay back and fight. They also plan to escalate the matter beyond Nigeria’s shores so as to force the hands of the authorities to allow it participate fully in the next elections.

“We will escalate so that the international community will be aware. INEC can compromise, but ADC will contest the elections and Nigerians will have their say,” said a source.

Multiple sources within the party said though the party leaders are not disclosing their plan, it is the consensus among them that moving to another party either collectively or individually is out.

They said this is because it would portray the leaders as undecided and unstable as well as set them on a collision course with one another.

Our correspondents learnt that the party leaders plan that after holding the convention, they would explore all options to prove that it notified INEC of its convention, hence must be recognised and start preparing for elections.

The source said “ADC is not considering any other option, because that is what those that are supporting Nafiu Bala and others want. Before taking over the party our members did their due diligence and everything was okay”.

The party’s leaders, sources said are not bothered about likely legal entanglements as they had been advised that the matter falls under internal affairs of the party which should not be entertained by the courts.

NBA hammer to fall on lawyers involved in intra-party cases

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) of Friday, vowed to take firm action against lawyers who deliberately file actions to procure judicial interference on intra-party affairs.

There has been uproar over recent court injunctions obtained by politicians, through some lawyers, stopping the functions of the executives of their political parties.

In a statement on Friday, the NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN) warned against undermining democracy, adding that lawyers who carry out such actions “aimed at procuring judicial interference in intra-party affairs, or who seek ex parte or interlocutory orders in clear violation of statutory provisions, risk facing disciplinary proceedings.”

He added “We will not hesitate to present petitions before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) against any Legal Practitioner found to be engaging in such conduct. This will be pursued decisively to serve as a deterrent and to preserve the sanctity of the judicial process.”

Similarly, the NBA asked the judges to stay vigilant, resist being drawn into political theatrics, firmly decline invitations, no matter how artfully crafted, to intervene in matters the law explicitly bars them from.

“When statutes limit judicial meddling in party affairs, judges must show restraint, adhere to the law, and focus on cases properly before them.

We call on the National Judicial Council to make regulations that will sanction any judge who knowingly assumes jurisdiction in matters clearly barred by law, grants orders in respect of intra-party disputes in violation of statutory provisions, or lends the authority of the court to partisan political maneuvering.

“The NBA will not shy away from drawing the NJC’s attention to the actions of any judicial officer found to have acted in a manner inconsistent with the judicial oath, constitutional responsibilities, and the preservation of public confidence in the courts. The NBA will not hesitate to activate its constitutional responsibility to protect the integrity of the justice system.”

On Nafiu Bala

One of the ADC leaders said, “there is no way we will play into the hands of agents of government that are causing confusion in the party, by leaving the party, so that they can hand over to only one man. How come no member of the former NWC is saying anything except Bala?”

He continued: “When we said Bala is working for the government, people said no. But you see that he protested to the INEC headquarters with Leke Abejide, a known ally of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has been campaigning for him.

“So when you see them working together, what does that mean? But the party is ready for them, Already, Nigerians know what is happening and why people like Nafiu Bala and Leke Abejide are trying to cause problem in the party.

Another top member of the party who does not want to be named, told our correspondents that after several meetings, they realised the disadvantages in all the other options open to them and concluded that the advantages of moving together outweighs going separate ways.

“Now we have attracted the three major presidential candidate in the last elections, not only that, most of the governorship candidates of the major parties in the last elections have also pitched their tents with us, so moving away would affect the cohesion as it is bound to create fresh problems for us,” he said.

Boost within few weeks

Weekend Trust reports that within the last one month, the ADC has seen major strides that boosted its image with the defection of the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, senators and House of Representatives members, making it the major opposition party in the Senate.

The nine senators are; Aminu Tambuwal, Sokoto; Enyinnaya Abaribe, Abia; Binos Yaroe, Adamawa; Victor Umeh, Anambra; Tony Nwoye, Anambra; Lawal Usman, Kaduna; Ogoshi Onawo,Nasarawa; Austin Akobundu,.Abia; and Ireti Kingibe, FCT.

While the other lawmakers’ defections were accepted, that of Abaribe suffered a setback.

Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya, the former senator who represented Kano South, also resigned from the APC and moved to the ADC. Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa, an influential politician in Zamfara State also pitched his tent with the ADC.

At the House of Representatives, five members abandoned the Labour Party (LP) and PDP for the ADC. Afam Ogene, Peter Aniekwe and Lilian Orogbu (Anambra) Jesse Onakalusi (Lagos) and Murphy Omoruyi (Edo).

Added to that, a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP under the leadership of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, commenced alliance talks with the ADC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Among those that attended meeting on the PDP side were; Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, factional chairman, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, Prof. Jerry Gana, former Niger State governor, Babangida Aliyu, Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, Hajiya Inna Ciroma, Gen. Ishaya Bamayi, Rt, Fred Agbedi and Comrade Ini Ememobong.

ADC gaining ground in Kaduna

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is gradually becoming stronger in Kaduna State, despite internal problems and pressure from outside. Recent political events show that the party is attracting important politicians and building support ahead of the 2027 elections.

Despite crisis, several well-known politicians have defected from other parties. For example, Isah Ashiru, who was the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023, has joined ADC. Also, Sani Bello, a former campaign director for the current governor, left the All Progressives Congress (APC) to join the party.

In addition, two serving senators, Lawal Adamu and Ibrahim Khalid, have moved from PDP to ADC. Some members of the House of Representatives and the Kaduna State Assembly have also joined.

The party also raised concerns about political pressure and intimidation. It claimed that opposition figures, including former governor Nasir El-Rufai, are being targeted.

Speaking on the party’s progress, ADC Publicity Secretary Darious Kura said, “It is evident that ADC is the party the masses want. The voice of the people is the voice of God.”

He argued that politicians are joining ADC because they understand that “elections are decided by the will of the people and concluded that despite internal disputes and external pressure, ADC is gaining ground in Kaduna through increasing defections, public support, and strong criticism of the ruling party.”

Boost in Zamfara

With Governor Dauda Lawal of the PDP switching to APC, the opposition in Zamfara was demoralised but with Senator Marafa’s movement to the ADC with his supporters, the opposition in the state bounced back.

Ahead of the 2027 general election, ADC has also established roots in the South South region as a formidable opposition.

Weekend Trust checks show that ADC has its secretariat and functional leadership in all the six states of the South South region, and the local government areas in the zone.

With the heavyweights in politics of the region, including former Edo State Governors, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; and Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, as well as the former Minister of Transportation, Chubike Ameachi, the party is already positioned itself for the big task, It was gathered.

The party had early in the year officially unveiled its South-South leadership structure, with major stakeholders already declaring support for the party.

ADC utilised the last e-registration to build a database of supporters, with significant engagement reported among younger voters.

The ADC in the South-South has seen an influx of members from other political groups and opposition parties, positioning itself as a reform-focused alternative in states like Delta.

Despite these signs of growth, the ADC has also experienced internal disagreements and challenges in the South-South, with factions emerging over the direction of the party.

Some states in the region had stopped the congresses of the party early in the week due to leadership crisis in the party.

In Benue State, the party is also reaping from the crisis in other parties as it has experienced influx of notable politicians into the party.

As the party prepares for its national convention, a major hurdle, is how to deal with states that are yet to hold their congresses. Our correspondents report that some states have deferred their congresses due to internal wrangling while in some where it is factionalised, they chose to postpone the congress in what they said was in obedience to INEC’s directive.

Weekend Trust could not get the latest state of affairs from the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, last night, as he did not respond to calls put through to him.

INEC’s monitoring of convention not mandatory – Lawyers

On the planned convention of the ADC, lawyers said the political party has the right to pursue its internal affairs by notifying INEC, and their absence cannot make the process unlawful.

Reacting, Hamza N. Dantani Esq said INEC’s monitoring of a political party’s convention is discretionary, not mandatory because the law only grants the electoral umpire the option to do so.

“Consequently, failure or refusal of INEC to monitor a convention does not, in itself, invalidate the convention, provided that proper notice was given. This position has found support in judicial reasoning, where courts have consistently favoured substantial compliance over technicalities, especially in internal party affairs, except where non-compliance undermines the integrity of the process,” he said.

He, however, cautioned that the ADC must be careful in proceeding with the convention.

“Firstly, the law requires that political parties give prior notice to INEC before conducting conventions, congresses, or primaries. The essence of this requirement is to allow INEC to monitor the process. Once such notification has been duly given, the party is deemed to have substantially complied with the law,” he added.

Earlier, Ebuka Nwaeze Esq said the Electoral Act prohibits a court from granting injunction restraining processes of election, and therefore, no court can grant an interim injunction on the processes to produce an exco and a party’s candidate for an election because it will lead to using court to stop a party from participating in an election. (Daily Trust)

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