From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), on Tuesday, said it has set up a panel over the defection and threat of defection by its members in the House of Representatives to the All Progressives Congress ( APC).
The ADC National Chairman, Ralphs Okey Nwosu, in statement, was reacting to the threat by the chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Customs, Leke Abejide, to defect to the APC, if the opposition party gives in hassles.
Abejide, who was elected on the ADC platform, while speaking a press briefing on Monday, had expressed support for the President Bola Tinubu, stating that he does not agree with Nwosu on the planned nationwide protests.
A member of the House of Representatives, elected on the ADC platform, Salman Idris, had dumped the party for the APC last week.
Nevertheless, the ADC chairman said the party is taking appropriate steps to maintain its integrity,stating that a 7-man panel headed by its Deputy National chairman( Politics) , Bamidele Ajadi has been set up to the issue of defections.
Nwosu said “on the defection or defections to APC from our party, we have been inundated with calls from party chieftains, concerned citizens, patriots, National leaders and civil society organizations. We appreciate their concerns and commend their patriotism.
” I wish to assure them all that as a disciplined organization with transformational leadership philosophy, we are taking appropriate steps to maintain the integrity of our great party, the ADC.We have set up a committee led by Dr. Bamidele Ganiyu Ajadi, the Deputy National Chairman (Politics) of our great party to look into the shenanigans going on to enable us to apply the arm of the law justly. Hon. Nkem Ukandu, Secretary and five others serve as members of the committee.”
He added that in the aftermath of the Supreme Court judgment on local government finances, the ADC has resolved to participate in all local government elections nationwide.
According to him, “to deepen ADC’s grassroots penetration and engagements, the National Executive Committee of our great party resolved to participate roundly in all Local Councils elections, especially following the Supreme Court ruling on the Financial autonomy of the councils. The party as a result has set up the Local Councils Elections Committee to schedule, strategize and supervise all LGA elections in all the states of the country. ”