APC accuses ADC of self-destruction, denies undermining party

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has hit back at the African Democratic Congress (ADC), accusing the party of spreading conspiracy theories and failing to manage its internal affairs responsibly.

In a statement on Saturday, signed by APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the ruling party described the ADC as “a party that never was” and blamed its ongoing leadership crisis on what it called a self-destructive design.

Morka criticised the ADC leadership under David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola, saying they “parachuted into the party like thoughtless and planless commandos” and violated the party’s constitutional rules regarding leadership succession. He argued that the recent decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to derecognize the Mark-led faction was legally valid, justified, and consistent with democratic practice.

“The ADC’s unwillingness to take responsibility for its miserable failure to follow due process…makes ADC grossly unfit as a platform to be taken seriously by Nigerians,” Morka said.

He further described the ADC as a party “bereft of ideas and lost in vain desperation for power,” claiming that its main focus appears to be attacking the APC.

Morka also reaffirmed the APC’s commitment to the administration of President Bola Tinubu and the delivery of the Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at strengthening democratic institutions and fostering national peace, unity, and prosperity.

INEC had on Wednesday announced that it would no longer accept correspondence from either of the rival ADC factions led by Mark and Nafiu Bala Gombe following its review of a March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal.

In a statement signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, INEC’s National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, the commission said it would also suspend engagement with both groups, including monitoring their meetings, congresses and conventions, pending the outcome of the case before a Federal High Court.