CSO alleges plot by presidency to discredit ADC leaders

From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja

Fresh indication has emerged over alleged plot by the presidency to discredit the leadership of the opposition coalition party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of next year’s general elections.

Raising the alarm in Abuja, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), claimed that the intimidating rising profile of the ADC, especially in the northern part of the country, has unsettled and upset the presidency.

The CSOs under the platform of Nigeria Democratic Rights Advocacy (NDRA), in a statement by the Secretary-General, Julius Aondowase, noted that their claim was based on credible intelligence.

They noted that a particular prominent appointee of the APC administration from the northern region has initiated a move through the involvement of several Senior Advocates of Nigeria and members of the Bench to firm strategies that will hinder the ADC from participating in the upcoming general elections next year.

“We have it from a reliable source that a meeting was convened on Monday with senior legal minds in Abuja.

“The purpose of the meeting is to explore all possible options that would compromise the judicial system to stop the ADC from participating in the election next year.

“We are also aware that the decision to get the ADC off the ballot in the upcoming election was handed down to the Northern top politician in the presidency.

“It is the last joker by the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, to ensure a system of control over all viable opposition parties ahead of the election next year.

“After failing in the attempt to compromise the leadership structure of the ADC, the ruling party has now resorted to the last option of using the judicial process to stop the ADC,” the statement claimed.

The NDRA specifically claimed that the ongoing litigation challenging the authenticity of the Senator Mark-led National Working Committee of the ADC is being orchestrated by the ruling party.

“It is clear to us that the APC is the brain behind the sinister conspiracy to disqualify the David Mark leadership of the ADC, with the sole purpose of submitting the ADC to the whims of the ruling party.

“We make particular reference to a letter threatening the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, dated March 28, asking that INEC should desist from recognising the current leadership of the ADC,” the statement added.

Aondowase, however, noted that the NDRA was actively working with other civil rights organisations and professional bodies across the country, and was putting the relevant countries on notice through their embassies in Nigeria, that any attempt to cancel active opposition in Nigeria would be rejected and resisted.

He said further that the plan by the government was to effect the delegitimisation of the ADC through what he called the obnoxious revised Electoral Act, which would technically disenfranchise opposition leaders in the ADC, locking them out of contesting in the 2027 general elections.

“The script that is being played by the government is clear: lock out all potential opponents against the ruling party and only the pliable opposition will be allowed to contest in the elections.

“Their agenda is to use the judiciary to eliminate the ADC, which is the most credible opposition party and by extension, through the instrumentality of the jaundiced Electoral Act amendment, disenfranchise all potential opponents of President Bola Tinubu.

“All civil society groups in Nigeria and concerned stakeholders in the democracy of this country are on red alert. The action to compromise our democracy and make the APC the only option on the ballot without a choice of a credible opponent will not be tolerated or accepted.

“We are by this press statement, therefore, calling the attention of all stakeholders, foreign governments and the generality of the masses of Nigeria to the machinations of the APC to cancel credible opposition, specifically the ADC from participating in the elections next year.

“We also send a note of warning to those involved in this plot to put their focus squarely on the job of providing adequate security and welfare for the people of Nigeria who are daily being attacked, maimed and killed by ravenous bandits and criminals,” the group noted.