By Asuquo Cletus
The Cross River State chapter of the African Democratic Congress has dismissed reports of factionalisation within the party, insisting that it remains united and fully prepared to conduct its primaries ahead of the next general elections.
The State Chairman of the party, Dr John Ogar stated this on Sunday during the ADC State Congress held at Danic Hotel in Calabar.
Ogar said the congress was organised in line with the party’s constitution and affirmed by a court judgment, which he said recognised the powers of existing state executives to conduct congresses in their respective states.
“We don’t have any faction in ADC. What happened was an attempt by some persons to usurp powers, and we went to court for interpretation of our constitution. The court affirmed that the state executive has the authority to conduct congresses,” he said.
According to him, the national leadership of the party only plays a supervisory and observatory role in state congresses and cannot impose structures on state chapters.
The ADC chairman noted that despite the internal wrangling that affected the party in recent months, efforts were ongoing to reconcile aggrieved members and reposition the party ahead of the primaries.
He disclosed that the national leadership had reached out to the Cross River chapter through emissaries in a bid to restore peace within the party.
“Yesterday, after consultations, I convened a meeting with our chairmen and we agreed to give peace a chance. ADC is at a crossroads, but we are moving forward stronger,” he stated.
Ogar maintained that the party still had enough time to complete the sale of nomination forms and conduct its primaries within the stipulated timetable.
“Today is May 10 and we still have enough time to complete the processes. Primaries can be conducted within a few days and we are fully prepared for that,” he added.
Speaking on recent defections from the party, Ogar said politicians were free to make personal choices but faulted those who preached opposition unity and later abandoned the coalition arrangement.
He alleged that some members who claimed to love the party had already defected even before the court nullified the rival congresses.
“Those who truly believe in the party are still here. Out of all the executives, only one person left. That tells you who truly stands with the ADC,” he said.
