The African Democratic Congress (ADC)-led coalition unveiled a new venue for the official launch of its political platform on Wednesday, even as internal divisions within the party deepened over the legitimacy of recent leadership appointments.
Earlier in the day, the coalition announced that the unveiling—which was originally slated for the Wells Carlton Hotel in Asokoro, Abuja—would now take place at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre by 2:00 p.m. This followed the hotel's abrupt withdrawal, citing an unspecified “internal compliance matter.”
In a statement signed by ADC’s Deputy National Secretary, Nkem Ukandu, the party confirmed the new location and reiterated that the event would bring together members of the National Working Committee (NWC), National Executive Committee (NEC), Board of Trustees (BOT), and other key stakeholders. Ukandu also noted that attendance is self-sponsored.
“We are fully aware that the event is less than 24 hours away, and we deeply apologise for the timing and inconvenience this may cause,” the hotel said in a message shared by media personality and politician, Dele Momodu, who alleged that the cancellation was due to political interference from the APC-led federal government.
The ADC is being positioned as the adopted platform for a broad opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 elections, with prominent figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, former Senate President David Mark, and ex-governors Nasir El-Rufai, Rauf Aregbesola, and others reportedly backing the movement.
However, while the coalition pushes forward, internal tensions within the ADC flared on Wednesday following the appointment of Rauf Aregbesola, former Interior Minister, as the party’s Interim National Secretary during a meeting of coalition members at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.
In a sharp rebuttal, the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Dr. Musa Isa Matara, issued a statement from the party’s headquarters in Abuja, rejecting the legitimacy of Aregbesola’s appointment and warning of an attempted hijack of the party’s structure by external political actors.
“We call on all genuine stakeholders of the ADC across states, zones, and demographic groups to reject this attempted takeover of our party,” Matara said.
He maintained that no leadership change is valid without the approval of a legitimate, constitutionally backed ADC National Convention or NEC meeting.
“Until such a process is held, no one has the moral or legal right to speak for our party nationally,” Matara asserted.
While noting that the ADC is not opposed to coalitions or reform efforts, the party spokesperson decried what he described as an elitist power grab disguised with “revolutionary-sounding speeches.”
“We are opposed to hijack, to imposition, and to speeches that sound revolutionary but hide elitist intentions beneath poetic language,” he added.
“We stand firmly on the side of accountable leadership, transparent decision-making, and a people-powered party structure. Any process that excludes the very people it claims to serve is undemocratic and must be challenged.”
The unfolding events highlight the growing tension between the ADC’s founding leadership and elements of the new coalition, raising questions about the legitimacy and sustainability of the political alliance that aims to challenge the APC in the 2027 general elections.
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