The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has dismissed reports of internal division, insisting the party remains united and focused on building its national structures ahead of the 2027 elections.
National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Thursday, said claims by Nafiu Bala that he had taken over as chairman of the party were false and designed to distract the coalition.
“This notion of crisis is good for the headlines, but there is no crisis in the ADC,” Abdullahi declared. “The man resigned, and we provided evidence. If he claims otherwise, that’s a crime he should report to the police, not call press conferences.”
He wondered why Bala’s recycled claims were being given fresh attention. “This same person said the same thing four or five weeks ago. What makes it news again is what surprises us,” he noted.
Abdullahi stressed that the party’s constitution empowers the National Executive Committee (NEC) to act on behalf of the convention. “Whatever decision the NEC takes is as if the convention has taken it. When we eventually hold the convention, it will ratify those decisions.”
On security challenges, Abdullahi called on the federal government to urgently declare a state of emergency in Zamfara and Katsina, where bandits continue to terrorize citizens.
“We have information that bandits have taken over large swathes of Zamfara, extracting taxes from citizens, abducting people, and slaughtering them,” he said. “If you could declare a state of emergency in Rivers where no lives were lost, what stops you from doing the same in Zamfara, where Nigerians are being killed daily?”
He emphasised that declaring a state of emergency would not mean removing elected governors but applying extraordinary measures to restore peace.
The ADC spokesman also reacted to comments by the Chief of Defence Staff urging Nigerians to learn survival and self-defense skills. “By saying people should learn to defend themselves, he was admitting that what we have in place is inadequate. I agree completely with that,” Abdullahi said, while stressing that government still bears the primary duty of protecting citizens.
On the 2027 elections, Abdullahi said the party would not be distracted by zoning debates or early presidential declarations from members of the coalition.
“Atiku says he will run, Obi says he will run, Amaechi says he will run that does not stop anyone else,” he remarked. “What we are committed to is a level playing ground. We will pursue consensus, and if that fails, we will hold competitive primaries.”
He added that the ADC’s priority is building strong structures nationwide. “Leadership is about knowing what to do and when to do it.
For us, our focus now is building a fighting structure, not rushing into zoning conversations,”Abdullahi concluded.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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