Political Scientists Offer Solutions To ADC Crisis

The Nigeria Political Science Association (NPSA) has suggested possible solutions to the lingering crisis on the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) .

It called the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to invite ADC to a meeting which it noted ought to have been held before INEC delisted the David Mark- led executives.

The NPSA in a statement titled, “Possible Ways Out Of The Logjam” and
signed by its president,Prof Hassan Saliu recalled that the last commission did something similar with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to warn the party against factionalisation, as shown in the mails received from the two factions of the party.

It also urged INEC to approach the Court of Appeal for the correct interpretation of its order on status quo ante bellum,adding that litigants should return to the High Court as ordered by the Court of Appeal.

In the alternative, the association said that respected leaders of the country could wade into the matter by talking to INEC and the ADC camps to find a solution to the logjam.

It added: “Some respected traditional rulers can come together to broker peace between them. Democracy is both conflictual and consensus-building. The disputants within the ADC’s ranks can meet and reach a consensus among themselves, and decongest the courts.

“There are proposals to externalise the impasse. We do not agree with this option in managing the disagreement.

“Undoubtedly, there is danger in latching onto the international system to resolve the ongoing issue. Resorting to it could be a double-edged sword. Definitely, there are important lessons for ADC to learn from both the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the PDP traditions of internationalising domestic issues and their telling effects on Nigeria’s external image then and even now.

“The country is already penetrated by external interests on myriad issues, not least security: ADC should avoid calling for more external interference in Nigeria’s domestic affairs.

“On the part of the ruling party, moderation is recommended on the transition programme to avoid driving opposition elements to the edge.

“As for the electoral body, the political environment is already charged with enough suspicions dogging the political space. Its deductions and actions should be considered both vertically and horizontally, given the fact that self-serving politics is the common denominator among the country’s politicians.Politics as a form of business in our clime means reasonable conduct is a far cry from its theatre.

“The NPSA believes that the matter in contention is resolvable and can be resolved internally. There is no need to externalise the issue. Our Association strongly holds the view that urgent action is needed to douse the brewing tension between INEC and the two factions of the ADC,” the political scientists said.