Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu, the founding chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), who recently stepped into the spotlight following the party’s involvement in a political coalition, during an interview with NIGERIAN TRIBUNE addressed several issues concerning the party and the controversies.
When asked whether he believed there would be any form of “coronation” instead of a proper electoral process, he dismissed the possibility, insisting that such an outcome would not happen.
He argued that, in his view, any attempt along that line had already failed, adding that the coalition had followed due process in its arrangements. He said the process was deliberate and properly structured, and even attributed a sense of divine backing to the journey.
He explained that when David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola were announced as part of the coalition arrangement, all partner groups within the ADC had already reached consensus, and the National Executive Committee (NEC) had voted in their favour. He added that the NEC also dissolved the previous executive structure as part of the reorganisation.
According to him, while some initial concerns were raised, those fears had since faded. He described both David Mark and Aregbesola as individuals with integrity, expressing confidence in their leadership within the coalition arrangement.
Further talking, he said, “They have integrity that no INEC person, no judge would dare tarnish. You tarnish their name and you will see the consequence… not even Tinubu can tarnish the name of a young man who sacrificed for Nigeria and eventually became a war general who kept this country intact, and because you want to get coronated, you think you can soil his name? No way, you cannot do it.”
He recalled David Mark’s tenure as Senate President during the political uncertainty surrounding the health of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, describing it as a difficult period in Nigeria’s democratic history.
He noted that Mark, who presided over the National Assembly at the time, played a stabilising role in managing the situation and helping to safeguard the country’s democratic process.
He expressed confidence that Mark would once again make a significant contribution in his current role within the coalition, adding that he believes the arrangement would ultimately produce an ADC-led presidency capable of driving what he described as a turnaround in Nigeria’s governance and development trajectory. Read_More…