- Safiu Kehinde
It was a gathering of political old war horses in Abuja on Wednesday as leaders of the newly adopted African Democratic Congress (ADC) converged to unveil their officials and other leaders.
Apart from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Mr. Peter Obi who both contested the last presidential election with incumbent President Bola Tinubu in 2023, at the event were political gladiators such former Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, former Senate President David Mark and former Minister of Interiors, Rauf Aregbesola.
NPO Reports that Aregbesola has been at the centre of the talks around the new political platform as he was Tinubu’s closest political ally until their relationship went sour.
The former Osun state governor and David Mark were both decroted as the interim National Secretary and National Chairman by the founder of the party, Ralph Nwosu, at the event held at the Yar’Adua event centre.
Prior to the handing over of the party’s leadership, Nwosu declared the resignation of all previous leaders of the party at all levels.
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.
