The Assistant National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Honourable Usani Usani, has stated that the party is awaiting a formal, transparent, and inclusive process to select its flagbearer.
He said this in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday.
“We are awaiting a formal process. Currently, we have three people who have indicated interest in the presidential race: Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Atiku Abubakar.
“I guarantee that the ADC will provide a candidate based on openness, transparency, and truth”, he stated.
Speaking on reports of the South-South’s endorsement of Rotimi Amaechi, Usani said the region showed strong support, but the final decision remains subject to the party’s national process.
“We had a leadership meeting in the South-South, led by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun. Amaechi attended and requested our backing as ‘one of our own.’ There was a voice vote with a loud ‘aye’ and no dissenting ‘nay.’ In a pedestrian understanding, one could say the South-South has agreed to support Amaechi, but this does not preclude any member’s independent thinking or the eventual national process”, he said.
On zoning calculations, Usani declined to state the party’s position on North–South power rotation, saying it was premature to comment while internal reviews are ongoing.
“We have policy, manifesto, and constitution review committees at work. It would be premature for me to comment ahead of their findings. The ADC aims to reflect the common opinion of the people to remain democratic. While I have personal opinions, as a party official, I must wait for the party’s official position”, he explained.
Addressing ADC’s rejection of the INEC’s election timetable, Usani said:
“Our rejection goes beyond just the timetable; it’s about the sanctity of policy. In a system with values, there should be a procedure for making policies that includes public views. This shortened timetable is calculated to shut out certain interests and “shortchange” the system. Those in power have been preparing surreptitiously underground while bamboozling the electorate with a sudden change.”
Explaining further, he said: “They are different species of the same animal kingdom—National Assembly, INEC, the Executive, and the APC. They are all in cohort. It is a paradox that the law requires a consensus of all candidates for internal party selections, yet at the national level, the lack of an agent’s signature doesn’t nullify a result. They are treating internal party processes as more valuable than the national election of a president.”
Usani also said that the credibility of the 2027 elections depends on INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu’s conduct.
“We must wait to see how his conduct compares with Professor Humphrey Nwosu’s role in the 1993 election—which remains the most credible election we’ve had. While the pronouncement is good, I hope he will ‘damn the consequences’ and stay firm under pressure.”
Criticising INEC’s stance on e-transmission of election results, Hon. Usani said:
“Regarding glitches, they say we ‘can’ transmit electronically, but ‘can’ is a probability, not an assurance. In a country where we send money electronically every day, the inability to transmit votes electronically is a ‘fabric of lying and deceit’ embedded by those who make the laws.”
Hon. Usani also warned about the dangers of low voter turnout and emphasising that both the people and politicians share responsibility.
“Voter apathy should worry everyone because beyond this point, Nigerians may seek ‘self-help’, which would lead to the collapse of the country. While politicians at the top belong to a certain social class, the general electorate has a responsibility. The populace must consciously take action to come out, vote, and protect their votes to guarantee good governance”, he urged.
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