The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has explained how repeated last-minute cancellations disrupted its efforts to secure venues for its national convention.

Speaking on ARISE News on Tuesday, Chairman of the Media and Publicity Sub-committee for the ADC convention, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the party encountered multiple setbacks while trying to finalise a venue.

“What the ADC has passed through in the last few days, irrespective of venue, is shameful. I just have to put it. Very shameful,” he said.

The chieftain recounted a specific incident where a venue was withdrawn at short notice during an inspection.

“When we got to the event centre, they made another call. They said, Oh, sorry, they had an event that they will be holding, and they needed two days to plan for that event, and this one that we’re asking for fell within those two days,” he said.

According to him, the pattern of cancellations reflected what he described as pressure from those in power.

“People who sit in government, people who have 36 governors, pro-city ministers, people who have all the money in this world, are so panicky,” he said.

The latest incident, he added, involved the Rainbow Events Center, where the party finally settled to hold its convention.

He alleged that the venue’s management withdrew permission under external pressure.

“Shortly before midnight last night, we got reports that the owner of the Rainbow Events Center came out to tell the leadership… that he has been instructed to withdraw the permission, and he doesn’t want to lose his only means of earning,” he said.

Despite the challenges, Ologbondiyan said the party remained determined to proceed with the convention.

“If this order… is enforced, and ADC is denied the right to use the Rainbow Events Center, then we can as well go on the streets and condone the convention there, because the convention belongs to the party.”

He maintained that the party had fulfilled all contractual obligations for the venue.

“Having fulfilled all contractual engagements, including payments for the use of the venue, there’s no way we can withdraw… if those who are saying that we have to leave… they should come by themselves,” he said.

Ologbondiyan also dismissed concerns about the legality of the convention, insisting that the party had complied with electoral requirements.

“The expectation of the law… is that our duty stops when we issue the 21-day notice to INEC. We have done that.

“We have issued INEC the required 21-day notice… and we’ll have our convention today.”

He added that there was no legal impediment to the exercise.

“There’s no order anywhere stopping the convention. There’s no order anyway, asking that the party must not hold its convention.”

On internal disagreements within the party, including disputes arising from state congresses, he said such issues were part of normal party politics.

He, however, downplayed the impact of the disputes on the party’s cohesion.

“All these things that are happening now, there are not too much of worries in ADC.”

Looking ahead, he said questions around leadership and presidential ambition remain open, with the party yet to decide on its mode of candidate selection.

He said the immediate priority was to strengthen the opposition platform.

“What is important now is that this will allow the opposition party to build themselves… before they bring in the argument of who’s going to be the presidential candidate.”

Despite the tensions surrounding the convention, Ologbondiyan reiterated the party’s resolve, saying, “We are going ahead with the convention. ADC is the political party.”

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has fixed April 22 for the hearing of appeals arising from the leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The appeals were filed by a faction of the party led by former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, challenging earlier judgments of the Court of Appeal delivered on March 9.

A five-member panel of the apex court, headed by Justice Mohammed Garba, fixed the date on Tuesday after granting an application for accelerated hearing.

The court also abridged the time within which parties are to file their briefs, directing respondents to file their responses within five days, while the appellants were given two days to file any reply.

The appeals stem from decisions of the appellate court, which affirmed earlier rulings of the Federal High Court in Abuja restraining the PDP from conducting its planned national convention pending compliance with statutory provisions, including the Electoral Act and party regulations.

The Federal High Court judgments, delivered by Justices James Omotosho and Peter Lifu, followed suits instituted by aggrieved party members, including former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido.

At Tuesday’s proceedings, several political stakeholders were present in court, including Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, alongside Turaki and other party figures.

The caucus of the African Democratic Congress in the House of Representatives has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately sack and prosecute the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Joash Amupitan, over allegations of partisanship ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The position was made public on Monday by its leader, Afam Ogene, who read the resolution following a meeting of the group in Abuja.

Ogene said recent actions and alleged statements attributed to Amupitan had cast doubt on his ability to serve as a neutral umpire.

“The caucus raised concerns regarding the impartiality and neutrality of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Joash Amupitan, to oversee a free, fair, and credible 2027 general elections.

“This follows recent public statements and actions by the chairman that have been deemed compromising, partisan, and conflicted.

“It has been alleged that he previously made a partisan statement on his personal X account, wherein he expressed support for the ruling All Progressives Congress.

“Additionally, he has been accused of posting content alleging Christian genocide in Nigeria.

“Although INEC has denied that Prof Amupitan is the owner of the X account in question, digital forensic analysis and other online investigations by various sources suggest that the account is indeed his and that the phone number used to create it is registered in his name.

“This has raised concerns regarding his transparency, integrity, and trustworthiness, particularly given the critical nature of the office he holds, which will have far-reaching implications for the nation,” Ogene said.

He added that, “In light of these inconsistencies and concerns regarding impartiality and integrity, the House caucus, on Monday, April 13, 2026, hereby calls for the removal of Prof Amupitan from office and advocates for his prosecution, to safeguard the nation against an avoidable descent into undemocratic practices.”

The latest demand comes against the backdrop of a deepening leadership crisis within the ADC, which the caucus blames squarely on INEC’s actions.

At the centre of the dispute is the removal of former Senate President, David Mark, as the recognised leader of the party. Mark had previously been acknowledged by INEC as the authentic leader of the ADC after meeting the required legal and administrative conditions, a position the party said was backed by documentation, including an affidavit issued by the commission.

However, INEC’s subsequent decision to withdraw that recognition alongside that of a rival faction, led by Nafiu Bala, triggered internal divisions, legal battles, and uncertainty over the party’s structure ahead of the 2027 elections.

ADC lawmakers argued that the commission’s intervention in what they described as an internal party matter had worsened the crisis and could ultimately prevent the party from fielding candidates.

“The caucus is gravely concerned about the ostensibly undemocratic action taken by INEC, under the leadership of Prof Amupitan, which appears to deny the ADC the opportunity to participate in the forthcoming elections.

“This is being achieved through the perpetuation of a leadership crisis within the party, whereby INEC has abdicated its responsibility as an impartial arbiter and instead intervened in the party’s internal affairs.

“Specifically, the commission seems to be recognising an illegitimate leadership faction, contrary to the authentic leadership of Senator David Mark, which had previously been acknowledged and certified by INEC itself, having met the requisite criteria, as evidenced by a recent affidavit issued by the commission.

“We note that the commission, in collusion with certain elements within the judiciary, is actively working to undermine the aspirations of the ADC, thereby preventing the party from fielding candidates in the forthcoming elections, through duplicitous means that serve to obstruct inclusivity within the democratic process.

“In fact, credible information at our disposal suggests that certain individuals within the judiciary and INEC are collaborating to influence the outcome of a case coming up on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, regarding the leadership question in the ADC, potentially impacting the recognition of a discredited faction,” Ogene added.

Beyond INEC, the caucus also raised concerns about alleged judicial interference in political matters, warning that it would escalate its response if necessary.

It said plans were underway to petition the National Judicial Council to investigate judges accused of partisan conduct, referencing recent remarks by Nigerian Bar Association President, Afam Osigwe.

“We are vigilant and have concluded plans, on behalf of the Nigerian people, to submit a petition before the National Judicial Council to the effect that politically exposed judicial officers, as recently outlined by the NBA president, Afam Osigwe, SAN, be made to undergo investigations and possible removal from the Bench,” the caucus concluded

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN