Dr. Abimiku Monday, Special Adviser on Strategic Communication to the Acting National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has said the party will not allow what he described as hijackers to take over its structure, insisting that the matter with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is already in court.
Speaking on ARISE News on Tuesday, Dr. Abimiku Monday said: “If you’ve been following the trend of the ADC for a while now, you’ll agree with me that this whole imbroglio started in July, when a group of persons, or let me say politicians, from another party decided to droop in and hijack the structure of the existing ADC.”
He added: “As far as we are concerned, they just try to hijack. They are hijackers that just came in to take advantage of the existing structure, you know, in order to advance their political cause. So we will not allow that.”
The ADC chieftain stated that the party had not admitted the David Mark-led faction. “So as far as we are concerned, as far as we are concerned, ADC has not welcomed the camp of the David Marks and the rest. So we have not welcomed them.”
Dr. Abimiku Monday confirmed the matter was already in court and dismissed claims that it had been thrown out. “No, it’s not true. We are in court. The matter is up for hearing on the 30th of September. We want the court to restrain INEC from recognizing the David Mark-led faction. We want the court to recognize the Nafib Bala-led leadership structure.”
When asked if INEC had recognised the David Mark-led faction, he admitted: “Of course. That is why we are in court. Yes, it is a fact. That is INEC, INEC is a regulatory body.”
On the matter of reconciliation within the party, he explained conditions under which unity could be considered.
“If they follow the normal procedures of joining the party through the electoral ward by identifying with the actual existing structure of Nafiu Bala, then we will definitely accept whatever discussion they want us to have. But other than that, it is an aberration, it is an attempt to hijack the structure, and we will not allow that.”
He also dismissed allegations that the ADC faction he represents was being used by elements of the APC to destabilise the party. “The fact remains that those are unfounded positions that are being casted by the David Mark-led group in order to sabotage the effort the Nafiu-led structure is making in sustaining the party. So, it is unfounded. They don’t have any fact to say that. They are only talking.”
According to him, the ADC leadership crisis is not about aiding another party, but about protecting the party’s structure. “We are aggrieved. So, the fact remains that, as aggrieved persons, we have to push our part. We have to maintain the structure of the party. That is what we are up to. We don’t know or, rather, we don’t want to know whether it will benefit the other political parties. But what we know is that if we put our hearts together, we will be able to defeat the opposition. That is what we stand for.”
Dr. Abimiku Monday emphasised the position of his faction clearly: “The big deal is that they should follow the structure that is in existence. And then we work together. That’s the big deal.”
He maintained that despite contrary claims, the matter remains before the courts. “I’m aware of that, but we’re in court. I am telling you that we’re in court. Are you also trying to deny or oppose the fact that we’re in court? That is why I have told you that we are in court. They have, so we have, we have stopped them.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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