…Set up interim leadership, back INEC stance, warn of 2027 risks

By Adeko Ukpa

The crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) escalated on Tuesday as the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), backed by its State Chairmen Forum, announced a takeover of the party’s administration and rejected rival factions allegedly led by former Senate President David Mark and Nafiu Bala.

At a joint press conference in Abuja, NEC members and about 25 state chairmen said the move was necessary to “rescue” the party from collapse, restore internal order, and safeguard its participation in the 2027 general elections.

NEC, State Chairmen Move to “Rescue” Party

Speaking on behalf of the group, Abia State Chairman, Don Norman Obinna, said the intervention was not factional but constitutional, insisting they remain the only legitimate authority within the party.

“We are here to move the party forward, not as a faction but as elected NEC members,” he said.

The NEC warned that failure to act decisively could worsen internal divisions and ultimately jeopardise the party’s ability to field candidates in future elections.

Interim Leadership Announced

As part of immediate measures, the party leaders unveiled a 20-member interim committee to run its affairs for two to three weeks pending the conduct of a national convention.

Kogi State Chairman, Kingsley Temitope Ogah, was named interim chairman, while Edo State Chairman, Kennedy Odion, will serve as secretary.

Other members include Muhammad Jidda (deputy chairman), Kabiru Hussaini (assistant secretary), Charles Omidji (national organising secretary), Johnny Derek (deputy organising secretary), Stella Chukwuma (treasurer), Obinna (publicity secretary), and Samuel Gyang (financial secretary).

The committee is expected to oversee day-to-day operations and prepare the ground for the emergence of a new National Working Committee (NWC).

Rejection of Mark, Bala Factions

The NEC and state chairmen firmly rejected the leadership claims of the David Mark and Nafiu Bala camps, accusing them of attempting to hijack the party.

“We disassociate the ADC from David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, Bolaji Abdullahi, Prof Osunbor and all members of the so-called coalition,” Obinna said.

He further dismissed Bala’s claims to party leadership, stating that he never held the position of deputy national chairman.

The group also declared that the ADC “is not for sale” and accused the rival bloc of pursuing a power grab at the expense of the party’s founding members.

Backing INEC, Court Processes

The NEC threw its weight behind the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), commending its decision to withdraw recognition from the rival factions following an appellate court ruling.

“We are in total support of INEC’s position and commend them for doing what is right,” Obinna said.

INEC had earlier announced it would refrain from engaging with the Mark-led leadership and Bala faction, citing a March 12 judgement of the Court of Appeal and a pending case before the Federal High Court.

The party leaders also confirmed that some state chairmen had approached the courts for constitutional interpretation on which organ has the authority to conduct congresses.

Congresses, Conventions Under Scrutiny

The NEC distanced itself from ongoing congresses allegedly conducted by rival groups, declaring them invalid.

Ogah argued that the processes violated the party’s constitution, noting that no properly convened NEC meeting had been held to approve such exercises.

“You cannot conduct congresses while tenures are still running. The process requires dissolution of existing executives, which has not happened,” he said.

He added that several state chairmen had formally dissociated themselves from the exercises.

Root of the Crisis

The NEC traced the origin of the dispute to August 2022 when the tenure of former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, expired.

According to the committee, a Federal High Court ruling in December 2022 affirmed the expiration of his tenure and nullified actions taken thereafter.

“His refusal to step down led to litigations and rulings that his tenure had indeed expired,” Obinna said.

They further noted that the party’s Board of Trustees is currently inactive following multiple resignations, leaving administrative responsibility with elected NEC members.

2027 Elections at Stake

The party leaders warned that continued instability could have serious electoral consequences.

“If we don’t act now, we may not be able to field candidates. Any political party without representation risks being displaced,” Obinna said.

They stressed that the interim arrangement and planned convention are aimed at restoring the party’s electoral viability and relevance.

Kachikwu’s Membership Affirmed

The NEC also defended the status of the party’s former presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, describing his purported expulsion by the rival faction as invalid.

“He remains a committed and bonafide member of the ADC,” Obinna stated.

Efforts at Reconciliation Failed

The group said attempts were made to resolve the crisis through dialogue before resorting to legal action.

“We engaged widely and sought reconciliation, but when that failed, we approached the courts for clarity,” Obinna said, denying allegations of external sponsorship.

No Immediate Reaction from Rival Camps

Efforts to reach key figures in the rival camps, including the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, former National Vice Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe, and former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, were unsuccessful as their phone lines could not be reached as of press time.

With the NEC and state chairmen now firmly in control, attention is expected to shift to the proposed national convention, which may ultimately determine the legitimate leadership of the ADC ahead of the 2027 elections.

From Adeko Ukpa, Abuja

Women have been urged to cultivate patience, emotional strength and wisdom in navigating the challenges of marriage and motherhood in a fast-paced modern world.

The call was made at a seminar organised by the Cheriven Empowerment Foundation where speakers stressed the need for women to build resilience and maintain emotional stability in their homes despite pressures of modern life.

Founder and Convener of the foundation, Eucheria Ifeoma Ekweozoh, in her opening address titled “Strength Beyond the Moment,” said marriage and motherhood require patience and discipline rather than impulsive reactions.

She noted that the realities of modern society, including the speed of communication and social media interactions, have made many people accustomed to instant responses, a tendency she warned could be harmful to family relationships.

“Marriage is not easy. Motherhood is not easy. And being a woman in this generation – navigating expectations, comparisons, pressures and responsibilities – is not easy,” she said.

According to her, many women often judge themselves harshly during difficult seasons of life, stressing that emotional exhaustion does not amount to failure.

“You are not weak because it is hard. You are not failing because you are tired. And you are not behind because your journey looks different from someone else’s,” she added.

CAPTION: L-R: Mrs. Amaka Onwualu, Mrs. Loyce Ogueri, the Founder of Cheriven Empowerment Foundation, Mrs. Eucheria Ekweozoh and Barr. Mrs Ijeoma Okoro at a symposium to mark International Women’s Day in Abuja.

Ekweozoh explained that the theme of the seminar was designed to encourage women to respond to challenges thoughtfully rather than react emotionally.

“Real strength is not what you say in anger. It is what you choose after you calm down. Real strength is not winning an argument; it is preserving what matters long after the argument is over,” she said.

Drawing from her experience as a psychologist and marriage counsellor, she said many marriages collapse not necessarily because love is absent but because patience and perspective are lacking.

“I have seen marriages collapse not because love was absent, but because patience was absent. I have also seen restoration when people choose to grow beyond the moment,” she said.

Ekweozoh said the foundation provides counselling, mentorship and support for women and families, noting that strengthening women contributes to healthier families and communities.

“When a woman is strengthened, a family is stabilised. And when families are stabilised, society becomes healthier,” she said.

One of the keynote speakers, Ijeoma Okoro, spoke on “Marriage, Resilience and Wisdom in Adversity,” urging women not to view difficulties in marriage as failure.

She said disagreements are inevitable in relationships but should not lead to destruction if handled with maturity.

“Wisdom in marriage is not about proving you are right. It is about protecting what is right,” she said.

Okoro emphasised that emotional reactions during conflicts could damage long-term stability in relationships.

“A bad day is not a bad marriage,” she said, advising couples to pause before responding during disagreements and to avoid involving outsiders too quickly in marital issues.

Another speaker, Blessing Amaka Onwualu, addressed participants on “Practical Motherhood, Endurance and Family Balance,” highlighting the demanding nature of parenting.

She said many women enter motherhood without fully understanding the emotional and physical demands involved.

“No one prepared me for how demanding motherhood would be,” she said, noting that raising children requires sacrifice, discipline and emotional stability.

Onwualu stressed that children benefit more from consistency and stability than from perfection.

“Your child needs your steadiness more than your perfection,” she told participants.

She also advised mothers to establish routines, protect their marriages even after childbirth, and seek help when necessary.

Speaking on emotional health, medical expert Jacqueline Ikeotuonye highlighted the importance of maintaining psychological balance in family life.

According to her, emotional exhaustion among women can affect family relationships if left unaddressed.

“There was a season when I was physically present but emotionally exhausted,” she said, adding that ignoring mental wellbeing can create instability at home.

She noted that emotional strength includes the ability to regulate reactions and practice self-care.

“You cannot pour from emptiness,” she said, advising women to develop healthy routines, take intentional pauses and seek help before reaching crisis point.

In her closing remarks, Ekweozoh reiterated the importance of emotional discipline and continued personal growth for women.

“Strength is not about reacting correctly in one moment. Strength is about the choices we make over time,” she said.

She encouraged women to prioritise their emotional wellbeing and seek support when necessary.

“Your emotional health is not a luxury – it is a foundation for your family and your future,” she said.

Ekweozoh also reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to creating platforms for counselling, mentorship and support for women navigating different life seasons.

“Sometimes the strongest thing a woman can do is ask for help, seek guidance and allow herself to heal, rest and grow,” she said.

The seminar brought together young women and mothers from different backgrounds to discuss challenges in marriage, parenting and personal wellbeing, with participants encouraged to build resilience and maintain stability in their homes despite life’s pressures.

From Adeko Ukpa, Abuja

A political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Wednesday, urged the United States government and President Donald Trump to halt intelligence sharing and security cooperation with the Nigerian government, citing recent comments attributed to Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi on banditry and terrorism.

Frank who made the call in a statement issued in Abuja, said the remarks credited to Gumi suggesting that Nigerian authorities may know the identities and locations of bandits raise serious questions about the handling of insecurity in the country.

“If it is true that the government knows the names of these bandits, knows where they are located and even knows their camps, then Nigerians deserve to know why decisive action has not been taken,” he said.

He argued that the continued rise in kidnappings and killings across the country suggests that insecurity has escalated despite claims that security agencies possess intelligence about those responsible.

According to him, the continued deterioration of security despite international support raises suspicion that insecurity may be benefiting some individuals, alleging that insecurity in the country has become a “profitable business” for some actors within the system.

“Kidnappings have increased. Killings have escalated. Insecurity has worsened across the country. If a government truly knows the identities and locations of terrorists and bandits yet fails to act decisively, then that raises serious concerns,” he said.

He added: “They want the insecurity to persist because as long as insecurity continues in the country, it’s an opportunity for them to rig the 2027 general elections in Nigeria.

“They don’t care about Nigerians that are dying. They don’t care about Nigerians that are being kidnapped. They don’t care about the well-being of the people. They don’t care about the suffering of the people. They don’t care about good governance. All they care about is how they will rig themselves back to power using insecurity as cover.”

He urged the United States to exercise caution in its dealings with the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly in the area of intelligence while asserting that “the government of today appears to be friends with terrorists.”

“I am calling on the United States government to be very careful in its dealings with the current Nigerian administration. The U.S. should suspend intelligence sharing and security cooperation with the Nigerian government and its security chiefs,” he said.

The activist alleged that despite the security assistance Nigeria has received from international partners, the situation on the ground has continued to deteriorate.

“There appears to be a pattern where the government continues to receive security assistance and aid from the United States and other international partners, yet insecurity keeps worsening,” he said.

He said Nigerian soldiers were still losing their lives in the fight against insurgency and banditry despite military equipment and support provided by foreign partners.

“Today, Nigerian soldiers are dying in large numbers despite the equipment and support provided by the United States and other countries. With the level of support Nigeria has received, the war against insecurity should have made significant progress,” he said.

The activist called on President Trump to take decisive steps against terrorist groups operating in Nigeria and act independently if necessary.

“We are appealing directly to President Donald Trump to take a strong and decisive stand. If the United States truly wants to help Nigeria defeat terrorism and make the country great again, it should be prepared to act firmly against the terrorists responsible for the violence,” he said.

He added that such actions should not depend solely on cooperation with Nigerian authorities.

“The United States should be ready to take bold steps in confronting terrorist networks threatening Nigeria, even if it means acting independently like it did on Christmas eve against those responsible for the violence,” he said.

Frank who currently serves as the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East as well as Senior Advisor to the Global Friendship City Association (GFCA), USA, also called on the United States Congress to pay closer attention to developments in Nigeria and support measures that would address insecurity and strengthen democratic processes.

He further urged the United States to support credible democratic processes in Nigeria, noting that free and fair elections would help strengthen governance and stability.

According to him, decisive international engagement could help address the security challenges facing the country and support efforts to restore stability.

“If the United States truly wants to assist Nigeria, it should help ensure peace, security and credible democratic processes. That is how Nigeria can move forward and become stable and prosperous again,” he said.

He added that strong international support could help Nigeria overcome insecurity and rebuild confidence in governance.

“With the right actions and international support, Nigeria can defeat terrorism, restore stability and move toward a future where the country can truly become great again,” he said.