The crisis in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has continued to deepen as state chairmen differ with the governorship candidates of the party on the national chairman and the National Working Committee (NWC). The Governorship Candidates Forum of the party on Monday, countered the decision of the 26 state chairmen last, and passed a vote of confidence on the national chairman, Ralph Nwosu, and other members of the National Working Committee (NWC).
Chairman of the Governorship Candidates Forum, Senator Zagi Caleb, in a media interaction in Abuja on Monday, said that the ADC is out ”to rescue the country from the present socio- economic and political challenges.”
Zagi, ADC governorship candidate, Kaduna State, after an emergency closed-door meeting involving the NWC and 28 governorship candidates for the 2023 general elections, highlighted: “we sat for over two hours and we have agreed generally that the party is supreme, the decision of NEC remains supreme.
“And so, every candidate, whether Presidential, Governorship, Senatorial, House of Representatives, or State Assembly candidates must subject themselves to party supremacy.
“We have resolved to keep the party intact, we have chosen this party because of the quality leadership it has.” Zagi declared: “ADC remains the only party with candidates on a rescue mission.
Therefore, “we throw our support behind the NWC and urge every candidate to be loyal to the party.”
The party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) had last week approved the extension of the tenure of Nwosu and NWC members by one year.
Zagi noted: “NEC decision followed attempt by a section of the party’s state chairmen to unseat Nwosu, who argued that the tenure elongation breached the provisions of the party constitution.
“But the 28 governorship candidates insisted that the NEC decision superseded the interest of aggrieved members of the party bent on displacing the Nwosu-led NWC.”
Zagi enjoined ADC members to remain loyal to the party leadership and follow the instructions and allow the NWC to run the party’s affairs and activities in accordance with its laid down manifesto and Constitution.
He maintained that “This is the only way to save the country and rescue the nation from the current challenges.
“We must keep our eyes on the ball, remain focused and do what we are out to do so we can rescue the country from the present challenge.”
The ADC National Chairman, Nwosu, disclosed that the meeting was to present certificates of return to the 28 governorship candidates as well as to inaugurate its forum.