The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has established a National Reconciliation and Peace Committee to settle complaints from its recent primary elections and unite members ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party inaugurated the committee in Abuja on Wednesday, with National Chairman David Mark charging its members to engage aggrieved aspirants, rebuild confidence and create a stronger working relationship among party members.
The move followed complaints that emerged after the ADC held its primary elections in May and the Independent National Electoral Commission later released its list of candidates. The outcome reportedly left some aspirants and their supporters unhappy, creating tension within parts of the party.
Mark acknowledged that while the primaries produced candidates who won their respective contests, some aspirants were disappointed by the results. He urged those who secured tickets to treat their victories as a responsibility and continue to work with members who lost out.
The ADC chairman said unsuccessful aspirants remained important to the party and should not be pushed aside because they failed to secure tickets.
He said the party needed to enter the 2027 elections as a united organisation and directed the reconciliation committee to listen to complaints, address genuine concerns and work towards restoring trust among members.
Mark also instructed the committee to create sub-committees across the six geopolitical zones to maintain contact with members and ensure that reconciliation efforts continued beyond the initial engagements.
He called on party leaders and supporters to avoid actions that could create further divisions, urging them to respect the outcome of internal democratic processes and resolve disagreements through dialogue.
The chairman appealed to aggrieved aspirants to remain with the ADC while the reconciliation process takes place. He also urged successful candidates to work with their former opponents and encourage them to remain active in the party.
Chairman of the reconciliation committee, Senator Tunde Ogbeha, said the members were aware of the difficulties created by the primary elections and were prepared to listen to complaints from affected aspirants and their supporters.
Ogbeha said the committee would approach its assignment with fairness and transparency while giving priority to the interests of the country and the party.
He urged ADC members to put the interest of Nigeria first, followed by the party, while placing personal political ambitions behind both.
The committee chairman also appealed to unsuccessful aspirants to remain patient and continue to contribute to the party, noting that losing a ticket for the 2027 election did not mean an end to their political careers.
He assured the party leadership that the committee would work diligently to settle disputes and bring members together ahead of the general elections.
The committee is led by Ogbeha, with Senator Oserheimen Osunbor serving as deputy chairman. Other members include Dr Ahmad Ajuji, Barrister Musa Elayo, Senator Andrew Uchendu, Dr Bon Unachukwu, Kunle Ige, Hajia Rabi Sule and Abubakar Kanike.
Peter Oyewale serves as secretary, while Isaac Dare Oketade is the deputy secretary.
The committee will also work with six zonal legal advisers to coordinate its activities and engage party members across the different geopolitical zones.
The ADC leadership believes resolving the grievances arising from the primaries will help strengthen the party’s internal structure and prepare its members for the 2027 elections.