Former National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ralph Nwosu, has defended the processes that produced the David Mark-led leadership of the party, insisting that they were properly conducted and that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) witnessed the entire exercise.
Nwosu also accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting to frustrate Mark and undermine the ADC, alleging that the ruling party was influencing developments surrounding the party’s leadership dispute.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE News on Wednesday, Nwosu maintained that the processes leading to the emergence of the coalition and the new ADC leadership were legitimate, challenging anyone to establish that there were irregularities.
“All the processes that brought about the coalition, I championed it. And I can assure you, if any court finds anything wrong in a true sense, authentically, I can assure you nothing like that,” he said.
He said INEC witnessed the processes and initially submitted a report confirming that the procedures were properly conducted.
“Everything we did was 100 percent, INEC were there, they were clear with their witness.
“And when this case first started, INEC submitted their report of all the processes that we went through, and they gave us an okay mark,” Nwosu said.
Questioning INEC’s subsequent decision to withdraw its defence, the former ADC chairman asked who influenced the commission to change its position.
“Who influenced INEC to say, go and withdraw, don’t defend? Who? And all of those exhibits are still there in that file. But INEC now wrote to say that they are withdrawing,” he said.
Nwosu further cited an earlier court ruling which, according to him, affirmed Mark as the authentic chairman of the ADC and validated the processes he conducted.
“Based on the evidence that INEC submitted, because they witnessed all the processes, and the one we submitted, which could lead us, aligned with what INEC submitted, Justice Lyman ruled that David Mark is the authentic chairman of ADC, and that all the processes that I conducted went well,” he said.
He alleged that the APC was behind the developments surrounding the leadership dispute, claiming that the ruling party was determined to weaken the ADC and frustrate Mark.
“So what we experience is the rascality of a very corrupt political culture, of which APC, government, I must accuse of being liable,” Nwosu said.
He also alleged that the government was attempting to frustrate the party and its leadership.
“They are playing games. Because the government is going down to see if they can frustrate, number one, the person of David Mark, and frustrate ADC. But they can’t,” he said.
Nwosu, however, insisted that the party remained determined despite the legal dispute, saying the developments had not affected its political activities.
“We are very determined. On that day, they are playing these games. We went to Kebbi State. We did what we did. Tomorrow, we are out again. We are competing. It’s not affecting us,” he said.
He also promised a public presentation of evidence to support the party’s position and expose what he described as irregularities surrounding the leadership dispute.
“We are planning for a major exposition.
“We want to open a gallery to shame the INEC, to shame the judiciary, and that will begin very soon,” he said.
The ADC leadership dispute followed a Federal High Court ruling that nullified the David Mark-led leadership of the party, prompting the party to challenge the decision.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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