From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has validated the change in the national leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), confirming former Senate President, David Mark, as the national chairman of the coalition opposition party.
The other members of the party’s national officers, according to the official website of the Commission, include former Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Mani Ibrahim Ahmad, and Akibu Dalhatu as the national secretary, national treasurer, and national financial secretary, respectively.
Only last month, the electoral umpire, while denying the ADC leadership recognition, claimed that it was yet to receive the report of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting that ratified its emergence.
The Commission also disclosed that the non-submission of Mark and Aregbesola’s specimen signatures was what was holding up their recognition, noting that former ADC National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, was still communicating with it in official correspondence after the party had notified it that there was a change of leadership.
However, perhaps bowing to pressure, the electoral umpire on Wednesday, September 10, reflected the change in the leadership of the coalition opposition party on its official website.
While clearing any further doubt over the status of the new national officers, Rotimi Lawrence Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the Commission’s Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, validated the new change in the leadership.
Responding to an enquiry from Daily Sun, Oyekanmi, in a concise message on WhatsApp, noted, “Yes, I can validate the change in the national officers of the ADC. The change has now been effected. It is effective today, Wednesday, September 10.”
