African Democratic Congress, yesterday (ADC), yesterday, addressed why the 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) Mr Peter Obi and former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, are yet to be full members of the coalition adopted party.
This came as former Director-General of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, Mr CID Maduabum, resigned from the PDP and joined the coalition’s ADC.
Further, in Delta State, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Ayiri Emami, dismissed concerns that former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, would dump the APC for the ADC.
This also became necessary as members of Obedient Movement, during the weekend, warned ADC not to sell its presidential ticket to the highest bidder.
During a press briefing in Abuja over the weekend, the ADC’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said that both Obi and el-Rufai were allowed to complete certain electoral processes within their former political parties.
“They were given the opportunity to finalise pending elections, including by-elections and the selection of governorship candidates, within their legacy parties,” he said.
He stressed that both Obi and El-Rufai remain committed to the coalition’s ADC and would formally join the party after completing those processes.
Concerning questions about the party’s internal democracy, Abdullahi said, “We have no hidden agenda or preferred candidate. Everyone will have a fair chance in the race for the party’s ticket.”
On question of legal matters with the party, the Abdullahi dismissed claims that the ADC was facing major legal issues.
“We are confident in the legality of every step we have taken. We made sure we closed all loopholes the ruling party might try to use against us,” he said.
The ADC’s Interim Spokesman also kicked against the recent restriction order issued against Mr Obi by Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo. He said it is undemocratic and a sign of growing authoritarianism among APC governors.
He said a statement by the governor declaring Peter Obi unwelcome in Edo state, is an example of this disturbing development.
“Nigeria is a free country, and every citizen has the right to travel freely across the nation. We don’t need visas to move within our own country.
“Since they failed to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, their new strategy is to issue threats, warning us not to visit their states. This is unacceptable and goes against the principles of democracy,” he said.
