“ADC Turmoil: Faction Appeals to US Amid Claims of Party Takeover”
A fresh leadership dilemma is emerging in the African Democratic Congress, ADC, as a segment of the party has officially lodged a complaint with the United States embassy in Abuja, alleging that some members are attempting to seize control of the party and subvert internal democratic mechanisms.
The branch led by Nafiu Bala Gombe is urging the US to contemplate enacting sanctions, including travel restrictions, on individuals purportedly involved in the unlawful takeover of the party’s governance.
In a formal grievance dispatched to the embassy, Gombe, who claims to be the legitimate leader of the party, asserted that certain unnamed politicians violated the party’s regulations and neglected the appropriate procedures.
Gombe indicated that the situation arose following the resignation of the party’s previous National Chairman, Ralph Okey Nwosu, alongside other members of the National Working Committee, NWC.
Gombe expressed in the petition, “I am reaching out to you in my position as the Genuine National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, ADC. I wish to draw attention to a significant issue within our party that we believe jeopardizes the democratic process and the rule of law in Nigeria.
“As a beacon of democracy and a protector of constitutional practices worldwide, we are imploring the Embassy to acknowledge this situation and take measures against the undemocratic seizure of our party.
“Our grievance arises from the clear violation of the ADC Constitution due to the voluntary resignations of our former National Chairman, Mr. Ralph Okey Nwosu, and other members of the National Working Committee (NWC).
“When the position of National Chairman becomes vacant, the Deputy National Chairman must assume responsibility to ensure continuity. After the resignations, I, Hon. Nafiu Bala, remained the only National Deputy Chairman who did not resign. Thus, by law and adhering to the proper protocols, it fell upon me as a leader to oversee the party’s operations.
“Consequently, by constitutional entitlement and due process, the leadership responsibilities were entrusted to me to guide the party’s affairs.
“However, our rightful ascent to leadership has been obstructed by external political actors, including those seeking power from various political factions.
“These individuals are endeavoring to dominate the ADC and claim leadership without adhering to our party’s rules or established procedures. We have pursued legal recourse to advocate for justice and demonstrate our conformity with the party’s regulations, but our adversaries have resorted to propaganda instead.
“They are inaccurately asserting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is endorsing them and utilizing the courts to stifle their aspirations. To clarify and eliminate any misunderstandings, we would like to state clearly that we have no affiliation, relationship, or connection with President Tinubu or his political party, the All Progressives Congress.”
In the petition, Gombe urged the United States to take notice of what he termed “anti-democratic actions” within the party.
He indicated that the petition aims to safeguard democratic practices within the party and ensure that the law is correctly upheld in Nigeria.
He continued, “We respectfully urge that should these undemocratic factions manage to usurp our party leadership through unconstitutional methods, the United States should contemplate imposing sanctions against them.
“We specifically request the removal or denial of any special privileges, such as visas or diplomatic treatment, typically accorded to genuine democrats and democratic leaders.
“Such measures would unequivocally demonstrate that the international community will not tolerate the erosion of the party’s internal democracy and the nation’s constitutional processes.
“We value your continued support in promoting and fostering emerging democracies to establish effective governance globally. We sincerely hope you will regard our plea earnestly and act swiftly, as it is crucial for justice and the future of democracy in Nigeria.”
