A faction of African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly condemned traditional rulers for their alleged interference in the party’s internal affairs, specifically targeting its interim chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe.
Special Assistant (Public Affairs) to the interim national chairman, Dr. Aminu Sani Alhassan, in a statement issued to newsmen on Saturday, the party condemned a wave of telephone calls and covert lobbying allegedly aimed at coercing the chairman into abandoning his stance in defense of the party’s democratic integrity.
The party accused the monarchs of attempting to undermine Nafiu Bala’s leadership to destabilise the party.
The ADC alleged that certain traditional rulers have been working behind the scenes to topple Nafiu Bala’s leadership, allegedly collaborating with political bigwigs to achieve their goals.
The party views this interference as a direct threat to its autonomy and stability.
The ADC expressed outrage over what it described as an alarming attempt by some traditional rulers and political figures to pressure Gombe, into relinquishing control of the party.
Alhassan said: “It is disheartening that these telephone calls to undermine the efforts of the Interim National Chairman to defend the ADC’s democratic principles have been extended to some NWC members – urging them to stop the Chairman from maintaining the party’s latest position.
“This personalisation is unacceptable and a veiled attempt to undermine democracy through the backdoor. We reject this attempt of dragging the ADC Chairman’s parents into a decidedly partisan matter.
“Let it be known without mincing words also: the meddlesome behavior by royal fathers and the secretly formed group of coalition arrowheads, for the visit to the Chairman’s mother is crude, disgraceful, unconstitutional, and a direct insult to Nigeria’s democratic process.”
The ADC also warned those posing as peacemakers while advancing the alleged coalition agenda that they will be named and shamed. It accused these individuals of further exposing the desperation of those behind the plot.
“Let it be loud and clear: Traditional rulers have no business crawling around political corridors on behalf of godfathers. This is not 1983. The ADC will not be used as a stepping stone for the untrustworthy 2027 ambitions of a noisy gang of privileged few, not now, not ever.
“Alhaji Nafiu Bala Gombe is backed by the party’s constitution and enjoys overwhelming support from true ADC loyalists nationwide. He will not be blackmailed, cajoled, or cowed into surrender.
“Those posing as peacemakers while peddling the coalition agenda should beware, we will name and shame them. These backdoor royal agents are only proving how desperate and rattled the hijackers have become,” it said.