The Grassroots Mobilisation Network (GMN), a support group of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has expressed confidence that the Supreme Court will rule in favour of the party’s National Chairman, David Mark, and National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, in the ongoing leadership dispute.
The group’s spokesperson, Peter Emeka, spoke with journalists on Wednesday shortly after proceedings at the Supreme Court, which reserved judgment in the case and said a date for its decision would be communicated to the parties.
Emeka said the apex court was unlikely to depart from its precedents, citing a recent ruling involving the Social Democratic Party (SDP), where the court directed the party to resolve its internal disputes.
“Section 83 of the Electoral Act is very clear about this. What our party is facing is purely political, orchestrated by the ruling All Progressives Congress,” he said.
He described Nafi’u Bala and Hon. Leke Abejide as dissidents allegedly backed to destabilise the party, claiming they were being used as “pawns in a political chess game.”
Emeka said Bala had resigned alongside other members of the National Working Committee (NWC) in May last year and was present at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting that produced Mark and Aregbesola, while Abejide was suspended at the ward level, a decision he said was affirmed by his state chapter and ratified at the party’s recent convention over alleged anti-party activities.
He further alleged that the Presidency was behind the crisis, claiming that the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, had publicly supported opposing figures within the party.
The GMN spokesperson also said the dispute has drawn local and international attention, noting that foreign observers, including representatives from the United Kingdom, China and Norway, attended the party’s last convention.
According to him, legal stakeholders, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), have expressed support for Mark and Aregbesola, while the U.S.
The Department of State is monitoring developments in Nigeria’s judiciary and political environment.
He added that one of the ADC’s presidential aspirants recently hosted the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria in Onitsha, where discussions reportedly focused on the ongoing litigation and alleged interference in opposition party affairs.
The Supreme Court is expected to deliver its judgment on a date yet to be announced.
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