The chairmen of the 36 state chapters of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have said they are on the same page with the David Mark-led interim national leadership of the party.
The chairman of the Kogi State chapter of the ADC, Kingsley Ogga, stated this while speaking with journalists on Thursday in Abuja.
Ogga, who spoke on bahalf of his colleagues, dismissed the standpoint of some individuals and groups challenging the July 2 take-over of the ADC structure at the national level.
The Kogi chairman however, clarified that it was only at the national level that the leadership changed hands, stressing that the leadership at state chapters remained intact.
“We have been on this process almost three years now. We have been carried along on what they are going to do and how they are going to do it.
“We sat down together, we deliberated together. That is how we did it before we came to this particular point we are now, the coalition.
“We are all with the national leadership led by David Mark because everybody was carried along. We were all carried along and we were part of it. And we have also supported what is coming up now,” Ogga said.
The chairman maintained that all the state chairmen were willing to retain their seats and work with the new national leadership of the ADC ahead of the 2027 general election.
The ADC interim National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, buttressed the position of the Kogi chapter chairman.
Speaking with journalists after a meeting with the chapter chairmen, Abdullahi said the tenure of the state chairmen is guaranteed.
“We invited all the state chairman to this meeting to reassure them that we don’t have any intention to push them away.
“The 37 state chairmen, including the FCT, were present here. And the purpose is to dispel all kinds of falsehood and rumours that have been going around the country that we have come to take over this party from them and to push them away.
“We don’t have any intention to shove them off. We are here to work with them as partners to build a stronger political party.
“And they are assured and they are going to leave Abuja today more confident than they were yesterday, that they are partners in the building of this coalition,” Abdullahi said.
The spokesman dismissed the decision of a former ADC presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachukwu, challenging the take over.
“A presidential candidate is not an officer of the party. A presidential candidate is just someone, a member of the party.
“We are on a solid legal ground. And if anyone has any evidence to show that we have violated our own constitution, we are open to be challenged. No member of ADC has disagreed with the process so far.”
