ADC crisis self-inflicted, not Tinubu-INEC plot, says Presidency
By Bolaji Ogundele • ‘Opposition figures violated party’s constitution in leadership tussle’ The Presidency has dismissed the allegations by a media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Paul
By Bolaji Ogundele
• ‘Opposition figures violated party’s constitution in leadership tussle’
The Presidency has dismissed the allegations by a media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Paul Ibeh, that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is colluding with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to destabilise the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
It described the claim as baseless and self-serving.
Ibeh, a spokesperson within the Atiku political camp, had alleged in a post on X that the President was working in tandem with the electoral umpire to undermine the opposition party.
He cited the ongoing leadership validation crisis within the ADC.
But reacting to the allegation, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Tope Ajayi, said the accusation was a diversionary tactic by opposition figures seeking to escape responsibility for the internal disarray within their party.
Ajayi said the crisis rocking the ADC stemmed from what he called an “untidy and unconstitutional” process by which some opposition leaders allegedly took over the party’s structure.
“Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ADC, and Paul Ibe can continue to get high on their own smoke with their false claims if it will make them feel good.
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“But the ADC and their leaders know the truth, and the only truth is that they created the current problem they are having by themselves with the untidy manner they hijacked the party without following the rules and the constitution of ADC,” Ajayi said.
The presidential aide argued that the party’s constitution clearly stipulates that any member seeking an elective or appointive position within its structure must have been a financial member for at least two years.
He queried if key opposition figures, including David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, and Bolaji Abdullahi, met such requirements before assuming leadership roles within the party.
“It is never heard of that those who joined a party become national executive members the same day they joined,” Ajayi stated.
According to him, attributing the internal crisis to President Tinubu or INEC was an attempt to mask what he called poor organisation and a lack of internal democracy within the opposition ranks.
“The fact of the matter is that these people created the mess they find themselves in. They are drowning, and the only straw they can hold on to… is to blame President Tinubu and blame INEC,” he added.
Ajayi further accused the defecting opposition figures of having a history of destabilising political parties they previously belonged to, describing them as “political destroyers, not builders”.
In contrast, he defended President Tinubu’s political track record, noting that the Nigerian leader spent years in opposition building alliances that culminated in the formation of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and its eventual victory in 2015.
“President Tinubu didn’t spend one day blaming anyone. He worked very hard with other political leaders to build a viable opposition movement,” Ajayi said.
The presidential aide urged the ADC leadership to focus on internal reforms rather than what he called “blackmail and empty noise”.
He insisted that the current crisis was entirely self-inflicted.
