ADC stakeholders warn against hijack of party structure ahead of 2027 elections

Stakeholders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition in Kaduna state have warned against any attempt to hijack the party’s structure.

At a press conference in Kaduna on Monday, the stakeholders urged David Mark, ADC’s interim chairman, to guard the party against godfather politics.

The party members said the ADC must not fall into the hands of a single individual who monopolises decision-making and imposes candidates.

The forum comprises members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Labour Party, alongside key ADC leaders in Kaduna, including Ahmed Tijjani Mustapha, Patrick Didam, and Ibrahim Suleiman.

They said their position is backed by Nenadi Usman, LP’s caretaker committee chair; Datti Baba-Ahmed, the party’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate; and Shuaibu Idris Mikati, who were represented at the briefing.

In a jointly signed statement, the group appealed to the ADC national leadership to protect the Kaduna chapter from intolerance, discrimination and lawlessness ahead of the 2027 general election.

“As stakeholders in Kaduna state, we want to appeal for the protection of the national leadership to prevent a repeat of another political disappointment in the name of campaign to rescue Nigerian democracy,” the statement reads.

They said the party must prioritise inclusion and internal democracy to avoid recycling leaders who are only interested in seizing power.

“When political leaders are intolerant, what comes out of them will be realities such as being discriminatory, self-serving and lawless,” they said.

“Where this is allowed, the default mindset will be imposition and winning elections through rigging — which is the dominant character of elected leaders today.”

The forum urged citizens from all 23 LGAs in Kaduna to register with the ADC and contribute to building a credible alternative.

“As stakeholders, we will work hard, including engaging leaders of the coalition and ADC at all levels to create a strong political equal opportunity platform that would guarantee the unity of citizens in Kaduna state,” the statement added.

“We are wary about producing another assemblage of politicians whose main objective is limited to grabbing power covered by grandiose promises that only aim to mobilise anger and frustration.

“The new orientation we want is that all stakeholders must be recognised and involved in decision-making, and majority opinion should be respected.

“On no account should anyone use the fraudulent practice of imposing a so-called consensus to trample on internal democracy within the coalition and ADC.”

They added that members must be allowed to express themselves freely and offer dissenting views, as guaranteed by the party’s constitution.