INEC Did Not Reject Mark’s Leadership – ADC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has denied claims that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the party.

The national publicity secretary of ADC, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, said this in reaction to what he called a story circulating that the commission has refused to recognise Mark’s leadership.

But an ADC chieftain, and lawmaker representing Yagba Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon Leke Abejide, has rejected any form of coalition with other parties, saying he will not allow “people from nowhere” hijack the party he laboured to build.

Abejide, disclosed this in a chat with Journalists in Lokoja, Kogi State, while responding to his alleged suspension alongside four other members, by the ADC in Kogi State led by Mr Kingsley Ogga as chairman.

Recall that two state ADC chairmen had called on INEC to reject the Mark led coalition party, adding that the former Senate President and his cohorts took over the party illegally.

Reacting yesterday, the national spokesman, Abdullahi said “The attention of ADC has been drawn to a story circulating that the @inecnigeria has refused to recognise the new leadership of our party under the Distinguished Senator David Mark.

“This story is entirely false and should be ignored. We urge Nigerian people to ignore such misleading reports from any quarters and stay focused on mobilising the long suffering people of Nigeria for the great task to save our dear country,” he said.

Reacting to events in Kogi State, Abejide dismissed the legitimacy of his suspension, claiming that Ogga’s leadership was invalid due to his expulsion from the party in 2022.

Abejide, who is serving his second term in the National Assembly, said Ogga should stop parading himself as state chairman because he has been expelled from the party and was no longer recognised.

He expressed surprise that an ADC meeting was held in the state at Senator Tunde Ogeha’s house, with the former lawmaker as the party leader.

He questioned the legitimacy of Ogbeha’s leadership, stressing that he (Abejide) is the national leader of the party and having financed the party over eight years.

According to him, the party’s constitution stipulates that members can only hold positions after two years in the party, unless a waiver is granted by the National Executive Committee (NEC), which has not convened to grant such a waiver.

He described Ogga’s actions as a “kangaroo meeting” and vowed to take action against him.

Abejide said the matter has been taken to court, stating that he would show the current leadership that he is not a fool and that he knows what he is doing.