Yemi Adedayo, Abuja
THE African Democratic Congress (ADC), says there is no breakaway faction within the party, as it noted that it would not allow ‘persons without significance’ thwart its effort from achieving victory in 2019 elections.
A group of persons who claimed to be members of the group had in the week addressed press in Abuja, where they announced that a faction of the party has pulled out, christening itself as the New African Democratic Congress (N-ADC)
Precious Elekima, the protem National Chairman of the group said that the group withdrew from ADC because it did not want to be a party in Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), explaining that ADC leadership joined the alliance without consulting stakeholders.
He said that by joining the alliance, the ADC defied the clarion call by fomer President olusegun Obasanjo for the rejection of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Since majority of the members in the ADC never set out to deceive Nigerians, it has become necessary for the sake of these innocent members and the hope held for Nigerians that we step out of the ADC.
“We are, therefore, happy and proud to announce that these gallant Nigerians who believe in the Third-Force for Nigerians have now constituted themselves out from the former ADC as the New–ADC.”
However, why reacting to inquiries by Elendu Reports, Anayo Arinze, the Publicity Secretary of the party, said there was no division whatsoever within the party.
He stated: “There is nothing like breakaway in our great party, the ADC. What we understand from this unfortunate incident of a group claiming to belong to ADC is that our part has become the real third force that Nigerians want because it is the three with fruits that pebbles are thrown at. Precious Elekima and his cohorts are unknown to ADC from the wads to the national level.”
Arinze emphasised that there are no such persons in membership register, adding that they are not card carrying members of the party.
He stressed that after the party discovered that they are from one village in River state, the party handed their issue over to the River state Chairman of our party.
“We don’t want to give prominence to a very obscure persons who is seeking for notice by acting other party’s script. If he is worth anything politically, why would he want to climb to political limelight through the back of ADC. He should go and register his party with INEC instead of lapping on our party
“However, we are more concerned with deepening our present at the grassroots and structuring our party for victory in 2019 general elections than allowing persons without significance to distract us,” Arinze said:
