RismadarVoice Reporters, April 1, 2026
The Cross River State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the emergence of an interim national caretaker committee, describing it as unconstitutional and a threat to the party’s participation in the 2027 general elections.
The position was made known on Tuesday by Dr. MacFarlane Ejah, the State Vice Chairman (Central) and Director of Policy and Strategy, during a press briefing at the Ernest Bassey Press Centre in Calabar.
Ejah said the state chapter was alarmed by what he called a growing erosion of internal democracy at the national level, warning that such actions could undermine the party’s credibility and electoral prospects. He traced the development to a meeting held on July 29, 2025, at Chelsea Hotel, Abuja, where a group allegedly dissolved the democratically elected National Executive Committee and announced an interim caretaker committee.
Those named in the caretaker committee include David Mark as interim national chairman and Rauf to Aregbesola as interim national secretary, alongside other members. According to Ejah, this move violates the ADC 2018 constitution, which does not recognize interim or caretaker leadership at any level.
“There is no provision for emergency powers that allows individuals to appoint themselves into leadership positions. Any such process is null and void,” Ejah said. He further warned that allowing an illegitimate leadership to organize party congresses and conventions could invalidate the nomination of candidates for the 2027 elections.
“If an illegal leadership conducts congresses, every candidate that emerges risks disqualification. We have seen political parties lose entire electoral victories due to faulty internal processes,” he added.
Ejah disclosed that he had formally petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), urging the electoral body to intervene in line with the Electoral Act 2026. The petition seeks to restrain the caretaker committee from parading itself as the legitimate leadership of the party and to halt planned congresses scheduled for April 7–14, 2026.
The ADC official emphasized that internal democracy is a constitutional requirement, urging stakeholders to uphold the rule of law within the party. “We are committed members of the ADC and do not want our party dragged into illegality. We are demanding a return to the status quo where leadership emerges through democratic processes,” he said.
