A faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by its National Chairman, Nafiu Gombe, distanced itself on Thursday from the reported defection and registration of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi at its Enugu zone office.
The section, which described itself as the ADC’s legitimate national leadership, said that the exercise violated the party’s constitution and membership procedures.
Chronicle NG reports that Obi announced his defection to the ADC at a function organized at the Nike Lake Resort in Enugu State.
During the event, the former Anambra State governor urged Nigerians and opposition groups to establish a wide coalition to “rescue Nigeria from poverty, disunity, and democratic decline.”
In a New Year message published in Abuja, Gombe underlined the importance of clarifying inaccurate information circulating in the public domain about the party’s membership registration procedure.
He stated that the ADC is based on order, discipline, and rigorous adherence to its constitution, and that the membership registration process is well specified.
“It has come to our attention that a certain Mr. Peter Obi was reportedly registered at a party zonal office in Enugu. The NWC wishes to categorically state that this action does not align with the constitutional and stipulated procedures for membership registration into the African Democratic Congress.
“The process of registering with the ADC is clearly outlined as follows: ward registration. Prospective members must register at their respective ward levels within their state of origin or residence. This is the primary and constitutionally recognized point of entry.
“On documentation and issuance of membership card, upon successful registration at the ward level, a validated party membership card is issued.”
The ADC said its constitution does not allow registration at zonal or national offices.
He added, “The party’s constitution does not provide for the registration of individuals at zonal or national offices outside of their designated wards. Any registration carried out contrary to this provision is considered irregular and invalid.
“Therefore, the office of the national chairman distances the original, constitutionally governed ADC from the reported registration of Mr. Peter Obi at the Enugu Zonal office. The party is investigating this breach of due process.”
As a result, the leadership asked party supporters and the broader public to dismiss claims about alternate pathways for party registration, stating that ward-level registration remains the only recognized procedure.
Gombe’s clarification came a day after the Labour Party’s National Working Committee, led by Julius Abure, heralded Obi’s defection to the ADC as “liberation” for the party.
The Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora In a statement made in Abuja on Wednesday, Ifoh expressed sorrow for choosing Obi as its presidential candidate in the 2023 election.
According to him, Obi’s departure just formalized a political schism that had existed for months due to a leadership crisis in the party.
