Photo Credit: The Sun Nigeria
2027: ADC Moves to Heal Post-Primary Wounds, Woos Aggrieved Aspirants
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has begun moves to reconcile aggrieved aspirants following the conduct of its primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party’s National Chairman, Senator David Mark, who flagged off the reconciliation process on Tuesday in Abuja, warned candidates who emerged victorious at the primaries against excluding or humiliating those who lost.

Mark, who spoke while inaugurating the party’s Reconciliation and Peace Committee chaired by Senator Tunde Ogbeha, said the ADC cannot afford internal crisis if it must present a united front capable of winning Nigerians’ confidence in 2027.

He admitted that the primaries had left some members disappointed and aggrieved, noting that such grievances must be urgently addressed.

According to him: “Our recently concluded primaries produced winners, but they also produced disappointments and grievances. These are realities we must acknowledge and address. An election may determine who carries the flag, but it must never determine who belongs to the party.”

The former Senate President appealed to unsuccessful aspirants to put the outcome of the primaries behind them and work with the party’s candidates, stressing that they remain critical to the ADC due to their experience, political networks and structures.

He cautioned winners that victory should come with responsibility, not as a license to sideline former opponents.

“Our real challenge is not the ADC member who contested against you. Our real challenge is to build a united political platform capable of winning the confidence of Nigerians in 2027,” he said.

Mark tasked the reconciliation committee to engage aspirants, candidates and party leaders to identify grievances, address legitimate complaints and rebuild trust. He also urged members to avoid inflammatory statements and unnecessary litigations capable of deepening divisions.

While acknowledging members’ constitutional right to seek legal redress, he said issues that can be resolved internally should be settled through dialogue.

He further directed the committee to recommend practical ways of integrating unsuccessful aspirants and their supporters into the party structure, saying no political structure or experience gathered during the primaries should be wasted.

In his response, Chairman of the committee, Senator Tunde Ogbeha, pledged to give all aggrieved members fair hearing and promised to dispense justice.

Ogbeha called for sacrifice and tolerance, urging members to place Nigeria first, the party second and personal ambition last.

“We will do what is humanly possible to ensure that we dispense justice, try to reconcile as much as possible, and we beg that our aggrieved members should please try to sacrifice, to be tolerant,” he said.

He reminded unsuccessful aspirants that there will be other opportunities in future elections.
Source: The Sun Nigeria