Updated: ‘You’re authors of your fate’, APC blasts Mark, Aregbesola over ‘hijack’ of ADC

By Omeiza Ajayi

The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, on Thursday reacted to the turmoil rocking the opposition African Democratic Congress, ADC, declaring that the party is the “author of its own fate.”

APC’s reaction followed a deepening leadership rift within the ADC that has forced the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to de-recognise the David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola-led leadership, while also refusing to deal with Nafiu Bala Gombe who is equally laying claim to the national chairmanship of the party.

National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, in a tweet on Thursday, directly targeting the legitimacy of the ADC’s leadership, described the emergence of former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as an irregular takeover that has steered the party towards inevitable disaster.

Morka said the transition was a chaotic power grab, asserting that the new leadership arrived with little regard for the party’s internal rules or the broader legal framework governing political successions in Nigeria.

“When its factional leadership under the duo of David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola parachuted into the party like thoughtless and planless commandos, and hijacked the party in violent violation of its constitutional stipulations regarding leadership succession, and in disregard of the rule of law, the ADC set its own date with destiny,” Morka stated.

ADC had accused the President Bola Tinubu-led APC administration of being jittery over its rising profile despite having over 30 state governors.

Morka, in another statement, said quite apart from being an assembly of Nigeria’s most confused and desperate politicians, the ADC has distinguished itself as a peddler of rabid conspiracy theories about what the APC is or is not doing to undermine the party.

According to him, the ADC is a party that never was. “By design, it was a kamikaze contraption with a ‘follow-come’ self-destructive detonator. It had to unravel and now unravelling fast by instalment”.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC’s decision to de-recognise the factional David Mark-led executives in compliance with judgment of court is valid in law, justified in fact, and consistent with electoral policy and democratic practice. It is the consequence of the Party’s reckless and desperate misadventure.

“It is therefore highly escapist and irresponsible for the ADC to blame the APC for its internal woes of which they are the sole architects,” he said.

APC said the ADC’s unwillingness to take responsibility for its miserable failure to follow due process, order its internal affairs, and manage its self-inflicted crisis makes ADC grossly unfit as platform to be taken seriously by Nigerians. A party that cannot fix itself cannot possibly fix Nigeria.

“The ADC has absolutely nothing to offer more than its senseless attacks against the APC. Attacking the APC seems to be its cardinal commitment and manifesto. It is a party bereft of ideas and lost in vain desperation for power.

“Our great Party and the administration of President Bola Tinubu remain steadfast in delivering on the Renewed Hope Agenda, and strengthening democratic institutions for peace, unity and prosperity of all Nigerians,” the APC added.