- Safiu Kehinde
The leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) at all levels have stepped for the new opposition coalition leadership.
Ralph Nwosu, the party’s founder and pioneer National Chairman made the announcement during his address at the official adoption of the party by the National Opposition Coalition Group (NOCG) at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja on Wednesday.
NPO Reported that the party had yesterday announced the appointment of former Senate President, David Mark, as its interim National Chairman, with former Osun state governor, Rauf Aregbesola, appointed as the interim National Secretary.
David Mark and Aregbesola who are members of the coalition group are set to spearhead the ADC.
Speaking on reason behind the resignation of the previous leadership of the party, Nwosu disclosed that the mass resignation was borne out of the need to give Mark a free hand to saddle the affairs of the party.
“We all decided to resign so that Mark can paddle this canoe and get us to the Villa.
“Nigerians are yearning for change. They are yearning for the coalition. I congratulate you both and assure you that working with the NWC and NEC members you will meet, you have no problem.” Nwosu said.
On his new role at the party, the ADC founder said he will be a floor member but will remain committed to the party’s mission towards ousting the All Progressives Congress (APC) out of power in 2027.
He also ruled out agitation from the factional members of the party, stressing that the leadership is prepared to face the faction.
“I will be talking as a floor member. My job will not end until we sing the national anthem in the Villa. That will be the real hope. Nigeria has been in ICU. Lives are being lost every day.
“My appeal to the emerging political leaders is to take Nigeria from the ICU to global reckoning because we can.
“We can help Mark and Aregbesola by the way we conduct ourselves. Anybody who says anything against what we’ve done today is not ADC member. We shouldn’t be apologetic. We need to be ready for this battle. More will come, but the way we are we will surmount them,” Nwosu added.
Despite agitations by factional members of the party who rejected the adoption of the party by the coalition group, the ADC announced the formal induction of the new leaders today with the event initially slated to hold at Wells Carlton Hotel, Abuja.
The sudden withdrawal of the hotel from the hosting the event led to the change of the venue to the Yar’Adua event centre.
The event had since seen the arrival of more leaders and members of the coalition group.
NPO Reported the arrival of the 2023 Labour Party’s Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
Also present are former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; and former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (retd.).
Several other politicians from across the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), and the LP have also converged.