The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly rejected a call by former President Olusegun Obasanjo for suggesting leadership roles within the party, describing the move as an intrusion into its internal affairs.
The National Assistant Organising Secretary of the ADC and North-West Zonal Organising Secretary, Ali Tukur Gantsa, made this known in a statement on Wednesday.
Gantsa said Obasanjo, who is not a card-carrying member of the ADC, had no moral or constitutional basis to interfere in the party’s internal processes, let alone suggest presidential flag bearers.
According to him, he is not a member of the party, making any attempt to project his candidature “misplaced and an affront to the independence of the ADC.”
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He further alleged that Obasanjo played a key role in the defeat of former President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 general election, attributing it to what he described as “insincere and misleading political suggestions.”
“The ADC is a people-centred party with credible and committed members. It should not be dragged into anti-democratic tendencies that could breed chaos, confusion and stagnation,” Gantsa said.
He warned that the party was aware of what he termed “interlopers” who were allegedly working to disorganise the ADC for personal and self-centred political interests as ADC will only entertain registered members.
Gantsa advised the former president to respect the party’s autonomy and maintain a dignified distance from its affairs.
He stressed that when the time is ripe, bona fide members of the party, guided by democratic principles, would chart the political direction of the ADC.
“The future of the ADC will be determined by its members, not by external influences,” he added.
He advised Peter Obi to remain focused and keep a distance from the former president to achieve desired results.
The statement comes amid growing political realignments ahead of future electoral contests in Nigeria.