A member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mukhtar Adnan, has alleged that there is a deliberate plot to weaken opposition political parties in Nigeria, describing the ongoing leadership crisis in the party as an abuse of democracy.
Adnan, a former Kano State House of Assembly aspirant, made the claim in an exclusive interview with DAILY POST, where he accused the government and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of interfering in the internal affairs of the ADC.
According to him, the crisis began after the party’s National Working Committee was dissolved and a new leadership emerged, with David Mark as chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as secretary.
He explained that the transition was formalised, including a public unveiling of the new leadership at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, and was backed by due process.
“After all the handing over, including the unveiling of the ADC leadership, one of those who was part of the dissolved committee who even submitted a resignation letter acknowledged by INEC came out to say he never resigned,” Adnan said.
He added that the individual went to court, where an order was issued to maintain the status quo, a development that led to the removal of the names of David Mark and Aregbesola from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal.
“This is what led to all the confusion we are seeing today,” he said.
Adnan alleged that the situation was not ordinary, insisting that there were signs of political interference aimed at destabilising the ADC.
“It is very obvious that the government and the APC are part of this plot to destabilise the ADC. This is an abuse of democracy,” he said.
He further claimed that the crisis was driven by fear of a strong opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“It is clear that the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is scared of the opposition. They want an election without any strong opposition so they can win easily,” he alleged.
Adnan expressed confidence in the judiciary, saying it would protect Nigeria’s democracy.
“We are confident that the judiciary will do the right thing. Nigeria is not under military rule. In a democracy, people have the freedom of association and the right to belong to any political party,” he said.
He warned that weakening opposition parties could have long-term consequences for the country.
“This destabilisation will not only affect Nigeria now, it will affect future generations. There is no democracy anywhere in the world without opposition,” he added.
Adnan also criticised INEC for its role in the matter, arguing that the commission acted outside its mandate.
“INEC has a very big fault here. The Supreme Court has already ruled that party leadership issues are internal affairs and should be resolved within the party, not imposed from outside,” he said.
He questioned the justification for INEC’s actions, insisting that the commission should strictly follow the law.
“Why is INEC interfering? The law is clear. If the law is not followed, then the court will decide not INEC,” he added.
Adnan said despite the controversy, the crisis has instead increased the visibility and support for the ADC across the country.
“At the moment, ADC is gaining momentum and popularity across the states. People at the grassroots are supporting the party,” he said.
He, however, urged the party leadership not to be distracted but to focus on building a strong platform ahead of the next elections.
“The ADC should not be discouraged. They should continue organising, come up with a serious manifesto and field credible candidates for the 2027 elections,” he said.
“The unfortunate thing is that many of those in the National Assembly today are not credible enough to defend the interests of the people. Some have sold their conscience for cheap gains,” he said.
