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• Mark warns winners against exclusion, humiliation
• Panel seeks end to litigation, internal divisions
From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has launched moves to reconcile aggrieved aspirants following its primaries for the 2027 general election, warning successful candidates against excluding, humiliating or marginalising those who lost out.
ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark, said the opposition party could not afford internal divisions as it seeks to build a formidable platform capable of winning the confidence of Nigerians in 2027.
Mark spoke in Abuja, yesterday, while inaugurating the party’s Reconciliation and Peace Committee, headed by Senator Tunde Ogbeha.
He acknowledged that the recently concluded primaries produced not only winners but also disappointments and grievances which the party must urgently address.
“Our recently concluded primaries produced winners, but they also produced disappointments and grievances. These are realities we must acknowledge and address. An election may determine who carries the flag, but it must never determine who belongs to the party,” he said.
Mark appealed to aggrieved aspirants to put the primaries behind them and work with the candidates to strengthen the ADC ahead of the general election.
According to him, unsuccessful aspirants remained critical to the party because of their experience, political networks, structures and commitment.
He equally cautioned successful candidates against treating victory as an opportunity to sideline their former opponents.
“Those who emerged victorious must recognise that victory comes with responsibility. It is not a licence to exclude, humiliate or marginalise others.
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“Our real challenge is not the ADC member who contested against you. Our real challenge is to build a united political platform capable of winning the confidence of Nigerians in 2027,” Mark said.
The former Senate president charged the reconciliation panel to engage aspirants, candidates, party leaders and other stakeholders to identify grievances, address legitimate complaints and rebuild trust within the party.
He also urged members to avoid inflammatory statements, unnecessary litigation and other actions capable of deepening divisions.
While acknowledging the constitutional right of aggrieved members to seek legal redress, Mark said disputes that could be settled through dialogue and the party’s internal mechanisms should be resolved through those channels.
He directed the committee to recommend practical measures for integrating unsuccessful aspirants and their supporters into the party’s structures.
“No political structure, relationship, experience or commitment developed during the primaries should be wasted,” he said.
Ogbeha, in his response, acknowledged the enormity of the assignment and promised that the committee would give all aggrieved members a fair hearing.
He appealed for sacrifice and tolerance, stressing that the larger objective should be placed above individual political ambitions.
“We have a responsibility to put Nigeria first, then the party and ourselves last,” Ogbeha said.
“We will do what is humanly possible to ensure that we dispense justice, try to reconcile as much as possible, and we beg that our aggrieved members should please try to sacrifice, to be tolerant.”
He reminded unsuccessful aspirants that the 2027 election would not be their last opportunity to seek elective office.
“If we don’t succeed in what we are looking for this time around, four years is not too long. There will be another opportunity to present yourself,” Ogbeha said.
