Cross River: ADC opposes party’s interim national caretaker committee

The Cross River State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the formation of an interim national caretaker committee, calling it unconstitutional and a threat to the party’s participation in the 2027 general elections.

Dr. MacFarlane Ejah, the State Vice Chairman (Central) and Director of Policy and Strategy, stated the position on Tuesday during a press briefing at the Ernest Bassey Press Centre in Calabar.

Ejah, said the party in the state was alarmed by what he described as a growing erosion of internal democracy within the ADC at the national level, warning that such actions could jeopardise the party’s credibility and electoral prospects.

He traced the development to a meeting held on July 29, 2025, at the Chelsea Hotel in Abuja, where a group allegedly dissolved the democratically elected National Executive Committee and announced an interim caretaker committee.

Those named in the committee include David Mark as interim national chairman, Rauf Aregbesola as interim national secretary, alongside other members.

According to Ejah, the action contravenes the party’s 2018 constitution, which, he said, does not recognise interim or caretaker leadership at any level.

He cited relevant provisions, noting that party officers must emerge through duly conducted congresses, in line with both the ADC constitution and the Electoral Act 2026.

“There is no provision for emergency powers that allows individuals to appoint themselves into leadership positions. Any such process is null and void,” he said.

Ejah further warned that allowing an illegitimate leadership structure to organise party congresses and conventions could invalidate the nomination of candidates for the 2027 elections.

“If an illegal leadership conducts congresses, every candidate that emerges from such a process risks disqualification. We have seen political parties lose entire electoral victories due to faulty internal processes,” he stated.

The party official disclosed that he had formally petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission, urging it to intervene in line with the Electoral Act.

He said the petition sought to restrain the caretaker committee from parading itself as the legitimate leadership of the party and to halt the planned congresses scheduled for April 7 to 14, 2026.

Ejah added that the party had given the electoral body a seven-day ultimatum to act, failing which it would seek redress in court.

“We are committed members of the ADC and do not want our party dragged into illegality. We are demanding a return to the status quo where leadership emerges through democratic processes,” he said.

He emphasised that internal democracy remained a constitutional requirement and not a matter of convenience, urging stakeholders to uphold the rule of law within the party.

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