The African Democratic Congress' Gombe State Governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections, Nafiu Bala, has claimed there is a leadership crisis, which he said was created by certain people he referred to as "political troublemakers."
He has also proclaimed himself as the Interim National Chairman of the party, saying, 'As the officially elected National Deputy Chairman of our esteemed party, I now take on my constitutional duty and responsibility as the Interim National Chairman of our esteemed party.'
He announced this on Thursday in Abuja during a press conference, accusing former party leaders of neglecting their constitutional duties and transferring the party's structures to "powerful outsiders" who have no connection to the ADC.
He further made a public appeal to the Independent National Electoral Commission to quickly acknowledge the leadership transition and safeguard the integrity of the ADC constitution.
He stated: "I, Honourable Nafiu Bala, a genuine member and officially elected National Deputy Chairman of our esteemed party, the African Democratic Congress, would like to bring to the notice of all members of our great party and Nigerians in general, the current instances of political misconduct being carried out by certain individuals who were previously given responsibility for leading the party."
We are all living witnesses to the disgraceful display and lawless actions carried out by these unethical leaders, who, without any hesitation or moral boundaries, dragged our party into an avoidable crisis and leadership instability. The notion of jeopardizing the future of our esteemed party by abandoning the constitutional obligations and responsibilities of all elected officials to influential outsiders who have no connection to the party, is unacceptable.
Lately, the country awoke to face a poorly prepared political drama, where elected positions were exchanged among certain groups of political outsiders to enable the full control of the party's structures and associated political elements.
This complete submission and defeat has no known example in our path toward a constitutional democracy. We are therefore firmly committed and united in our resolve to confront this insult and make sure that the party's established rules and outlined provisions are honored and strictly followed by everyone within it.
If these individuals decide to disregard our pressing requests to comply with our constitutional rules and continue to be stubborn and defiant in their improper actions, we will enthusiastically take legal action against these serious violations of accountability and hold them responsible.
It causes us great distress to flood you with these disgraceful events within our party, yet we have had no alternative but to act in defense of our fundamental constitutional rights, as shown by the current circumstances we are facing within the party. Throughout the history of democracy globally, no party leader or group of leaders has had the authority to arbitrarily transfer elected mandate or political power to non-members who were never part of or ran for political office.
He reasserted his dedication to reinstating constitutional order and internal democracy inside the ADC, mentioning that the constitution outlines explicit procedures for succession and addressing empty positions.
He stated, “Our great party's constitution has provided sufficient arrangements as outlined in various clauses, detailing the succession procedures and how empty positions should be filled according to the constitution.”
Under the current situation and to support my constitutional duty as the officially elected National Deputy Chairman of our esteemed party, I now take on my constitutional role and obligation as the Interim National Chairman of our great party.
Thus, I am formally requesting the respected Independent National Electoral Commission to immediately intervene and fully recognize this situation.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).