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Leading opposition political leaders on Wednesday unveiled the African Democratic Congress, ADC, as the adopted platform of a coalition of opposition parties to dislodge President Bola Tinubu from power in 2027.
Among the prominent politicians that gathered for the unveiling were former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Anambra State Governor and 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and a one-time Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai.
Other key political figures included Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, a former Rivers State Governor; Solomon Dalung; a former Minister of Youth and Sports, Senators Gabriel Suswam and Ireti Kingibe of the Labour Party; Emeka Ihedioha, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives; Dele Momodu, Ovation publisher and PDP chieftain, ex-Senator Dino Melaye and Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (retd.), a former Chief of Air Staff.
The coalition, which cuts across several political divides has adopted David Mark, a former General and ex-Senate President as interim chairman while Rauf Aregbesola, a former Osun governor, who was also a Minister of Interior will serve as interim secretary of the coalition.
Mark had recently dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, due to its protracted internal wrangling.
Earlier, the Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments in Asokoro, Abuja, which was booked to host the event, cancelled the booking barely few hours to kick-off.
Media impresario, Dele Momodu, had on Wednesday posted a screenshot of the hotel’s message on his Instagram page.
It read, “Dear Esteemed Patron, Thank you once again for choosing the Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments
“We sincerely regret to inform you that due to an internal compliance matter that has just come to our attention, we are unable to proceed with hosting your scheduled event.
“We are fully aware that the event is less than 24 hours away, and we deeply apologise for the timing and inconvenience this may cause.”
Momodu described the cancellation as
political interference and intimidation.
“The intimidation of opposition by a jittery government continues as the booking of a venue for the unveiling of the adopted party, ADC, by the coalition has been unilaterally and suddenly cancelled by the Management of the hotel due to what insiders described as fear of reprisals from APC operatives,” he wrote.
“But this will not dampen the daredevil determination of opposition forces who are poised to hotly challenge the ruling party.”
Also issuing a statement on behalf of People and Passion Consult Ltd, Salihu Lukman, rejected the cancellation and accused the hotel of a breach of a valid contract.
“This is unacceptable. Your management has no right to unilaterally sabotage a contract validly and legally agreed to and fully paid for. You must meet the terms of the contract fully by allowing the event to hold with full compliments of all the services agreed to. This is not negotiable.”
Meanwhile, a faction of the ADC has rejected the appointment of former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as the party’s interim national secretary, describing the move as unconstitutional and lacking legitimacy.
Identifies as the “Concerned Stakeholders of the ADC,” the group comprises youth and women leaders, state executives, and ward coordinators.
A statement, titled: “ADC is not a one-man project: A response to Rauf Aregbesola’s acceptance speech”, and signed by Dr Musa Isa Matara, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, on Tuesday, described Aregbesola’s appointment as lacking transparency.
It also said the claim that the ADC has become the adopted platform for a national opposition coalition is misleading.
“While we appreciate the enthusiasm with which Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has delivered his acceptance speech as Interim National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, we must urgently and firmly reject the premise and process behind this appointment — an appointment that lacks due process, transparency, and the broad-based legitimacy expected in a democratic political party,” the statement said.
“We are not opposed to coalitions. We are not opposed to reform. But we are opposed to hijack, to imposition, and to speeches that sound revolutionary but hide elitist intentions beneath poetic language.
“We warn those coming into the ADC as part of this imposed arrangement to tread carefully. Be mindful that some few individuals are attempting to sell out the soul of our party for personal gain.
“The ADC is not for sale. It belongs to its members, not political merchants or elite dealmakers.”
