The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised alarm, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting to seal that national secretariat in Abuja; assigning the Federal Capital Development Control (FCDA) to carry out the job. The party said that a petition has been sent to President Muhammadu Buhari to call his party to order.
The National Director of Communications and Programs of the party, Ifenla Oligbinde, vowed that the party cannot be intimidated, saying that a special letter has been sent to President Muhammadu Buhari, the Inter-Party Advisory Commission (IPAC), and the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mohammed Bello, to halt the plot by the APC.
Recall that during the week, the ADC National Executive Council (NEC) at its Special meeting held Thursday, 25th August 2022, under the supervision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), resolved to extend the tenure of its national officers.
Against this background, the opposition party noted that the ruling party was already in a panic mood over its growing popularity and wide acceptability in the country which might determine the outcome of the 2023 general election.
The ADC cautioned the “paid agents” of the ruling party to retrace their steps and intended embarrassment.
The director stated that the ADC is not a commercial or business enterprise, protesting that the FCT or the Development Control never designate any particular area in the territory political parties can site their offices.
He narrated: “Following the resolution by the ADC National Executive Council (NEC) to extend the tenure of National officers of the party during the Special NEC Meeting which held on Thursday, 25th August 2022, ADC has reported that the party’s steady progress towards the general elections has started ruffling several feathers.
“Some devious agents of other political parties have started using unscrupulous ways to intimidate or blackmail our party.
“Some unscrupulous persons have arranged to seal the premises of ADC under the pretense that ADC office is located in an area designated by FCDA as a non-commercial area.
“ADC is not a commercial or business enterprise and there has not been any area designated by the FCT or Development Control where political parties can situate their offices, as was done for embassies.”
The director argued that the ADC Global Campus and Transformation Centre which serves as the ADC’s office, like many other political parties’ offices, is situated even in a more public place than most of the offices of APC or the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).