African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged a fresh plot by agents of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to destabilise the party through a sponsored protest in Abuja, following what it described as growing momentum within its ranks.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, claimed that the planned protest was part of a broader strategy to pressure the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) into taking what he described as illegal actions against the party.
Abdullahi said the development comes shortly after the party exposed what it earlier termed a “sinister plot” to manipulate INEC following the defection of former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, to the ADC.
“Yesterday, we disclosed a sinister plot by agents of the ruling APC government to pressure INEC into taking illegal action to destabilise our party, following the milestone movement of H.E. Rabiu Kwankwaso to the ADC,” Abdullahi said.
According to him, after failing to influence the electoral body, those behind the alleged plan have now resorted to organising a public protest in the nation’s capital.
“After meeting a brick wall with INEC, they have now changed tactics, but the objectives remain the same,” he stated.
“Information reaching us this morning is that a public protest is being planned for tomorrow, Thursday, 2nd April, in Abuja, sponsored by a particularly notorious minister. Their expectation is that a protest will give oxygen to a case that is already suffocating in the courts under the weight of its own illegality.”
The ADC spokesman further alleged that the protest would involve hired individuals posing as disgruntled party members.
“The plan is simple: a paid crowd, posturing as aggrieved party members, will take to the streets demanding ‘David Mark Must Go.’”
He added that the alleged protest was intended to create public pressure on the Chairman of INEC to recognise an individual who, according to the party, had already resigned and was later expelled.
“This, they hope, will create ‘public pressure’ on the INEC Chairman to magically upgrade and recognise an individual who resigned his position and was subsequently expelled from the ADC, to the position of National Chairman of a party he no longer belongs to,” Abdullahi said.
The party further alleged that the ruling party was attempting to hijack its leadership, describing the move as a sign of growing concern over ADC’s increasing influence.
“The plan by the ruling APC government to hijack the leadership of the ADC, the only viable opposition party left in the country, is real. If anything, it has assumed a new level of desperation in the past few days,” he said.
“They are not just afraid of our momentum. They are afraid of what happens when the Nigerian people start paying attention and begin to believe that change is possible.”
Despite the allegations, Abdullahi maintained that the ADC would remain law-abiding while defending its interests.
“ADC remains focused on our duty to Nigerians, and we shall remain law-abiding. We will, however, resist by all lawful and necessary means,” he added.
He also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene.
“If they are not acting on his orders, President Tinubu should rein in his enforcers before it is too late,” Abdullahi stated.
The APC and the Minister mentioned in the statement have yet to respond to the allegations as of the time of filing this report.