David Mark, the interim National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has firmly stated that the party does not have a preferred candidate for its eagerly awaited 2027 presidential ticket.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, Mark reassured stakeholders that the eventual candidate would be chosen through an “entirely transparent” selection process.
“The ADC has no preferred or favourite presidential aspirant; rather, we are focused on establishing a platform that will be attractive and acceptable to the majority of Nigerians,” Mark declared while addressing a delegation of ADC stakeholders from Kogi State. He highlighted the urgency of their mission, adding, “We undertake this task because we do not wish for this great vessel called Nigeria to sink; if we do not act now, we shall all be lost.”
The former Senate President emphasised the principle of equality within the party, asserting that “all ADC members are equal joiners and equal owners of the party.” He continued, “I do not own this party any more than any of our members, and I urge all members to prepare to demonstrate to Nigerians that ADC is a different party. A party that is ready to effectively administer democracy in our country. All Nigerians must unite and take ownership of the ADC.”
Mark encouraged party members to put aside their differences and promote teamwork, stressing that “we must come together to develop the party before we can discuss ambitions.”
He also criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), urging them to refrain from personal attacks and instead focus on addressing the policy failures highlighted by the ADC. “If they acknowledge that insecurity is a significant issue and promised Nigerians improvements only to make matters worse, can they expect continued support? The answer is No,” Mark asserted. “Let us persist in our efforts to rebuild our nation and bring forth its best for the sake of future generations.”
In a related matter, the ADC has accused the APC of engaging in deceptive practices, alleging that the ruling party utilised the names of non-ADC members to file a lawsuit against its interim leadership. The ADC claimed that the individuals mentioned in the suit are not registered members in either their physical or digital registers in Kogi or Nasarawa State.
“It reeks of desperation that a party elected to govern the lives of at least 200 million people would resort to sourcing names of its citizens in pursuit of Machiavellian politics,” the party lamented.
Meanwhile, a newly established group, the National Legal Support Group for ADC, has pledged to address any legal challenges arising from the Mark-led interim leadership’s takeover of the party. The group’s leader, Mohammed Sheriff, announced in Abuja on Tuesday that no fewer than 97 lawyers have committed to representing the party in court.
