Solomon Dalung, Director of the Mandate Protection Directorate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, has warned the party against proceeding with the planned inauguration of caretaker committee members in its 36 states, saying the move could undermine its participation in the 2027 general elections.
Dalung described the party as being on a journey of self-destruction, accusing its leadership of disregarding judicial processes despite pending litigation at the Supreme Court over the removal of some party officials.
The former Minister of Youth and Sports Development issued the warning in a video statement shared by Viable, in which he distanced himself from the move and expressed concern over letters circulating on social media announcing appointments of caretaker committee members across the states.
According to him, the appointments involved individuals who had been removed from their positions by courts of competent jurisdiction, with appeals against the decisions still pending before the Supreme Court.
“We woke up this morning with the social media inundated with letters of appointments of caretaker committee members for the 36 states signed by the national secretary of the party.
“These letters purported to appoint persons who were removed from offices by the courts and the matter is still pending in court. As we talk, the matter is in the Supreme Court,” he said.
Dalung faulted the decision of the party’s National Secretary to appoint the affected individuals as chairmen of caretaker committees while they were still challenging their removal in court.
He argued that the action amounted to disregard for judicial processes and could be interpreted as an attempt to undermine the integrity of the judiciary and pre-empt the Supreme Court’s decision.
“This action of the party is intended to undermine the integrity of the judiciary and to pre-empt the decision of the matter before your lordships at the Supreme Court.
“This act is unacceptable to right-thinking Nigerians and lovers of the principles of rule of law and democracy,” he said.
The lawyer warned that the ADC could not approach the Supreme Court to challenge the Court of Appeal’s decision affirming the removal of the officials and, at the same time, proceed to reinstate the same individuals through caretaker committee appointments while the appeal remained pending.
He further warned that if the party went ahead with the planned inauguration, it should not blame the judiciary if the Supreme Court eventually ruled against it.
“Therefore, I am sending a word of caution to the party to put on hold the purported inauguration of the caretaker committee members who have their cases pending at the Supreme Court.
“Should the party proceed to inaugurate these persons, the consequences are obvious. It means ADC is not committed to participating in the 2027 election,” Dalung said.
He added, “This is an affront to our judicial system, and no sane judiciary in a civilised democracy would tolerate this. And so, I distance myself from the decision of the party, having advised several times against this.”
The former minister also cautioned Nigerians against sympathising with the party or accepting any complaints of injustice should the Supreme Court deliver a judgment unfavourable to its position.
“If the Supreme Court so decides to the contrary, Nigerians should not listen to ADC crying blue murder. This will be self-inflicted injury.
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“It means the party has inflicted this injury and should not blame anybody and should not call anybody,” he said.
Dalung also questioned why the appointment letters were signed only by the party’s National Secretary, arguing that the ADC constitution and administrative protocols required such letters to be jointly signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary.
He wondered why the National Chairman would not append his signature to appointments involving individuals who would be responsible for managing the affairs of the party across the states.
“Why did the National Chairman not sign the appointment letters of the caretaker committees? People that will be saddled with the responsibilities of managing the affairs of the party in the state.
“Why would this National Chairman not commit himself to undermine the integrity of the judiciary, knowing too well that he has briefed lawyers to file an appeal against the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court?” he queried.
He consequently called on the party’s national leadership to withdraw the appointment letters and maintain its appeal before the Supreme Court pending the determination of the case.
“These letters flying all over should be withdrawn, and the party should maintain its position of appeal at the Supreme Court pending the outcome of the Supreme Court decision on the matter.
“Otherwise, the party is going to pay for it dearly, and I do not think the Supreme Court will sympathise with the party because this will be that the ADC is the Supreme Court of Nigeria determining what will happen,” he said.
Dalung reiterated that he would not support any action capable of undermining the judicial process, stressing that his position was informed by his professional background as a lawyer.
“I hope this my advice will go into sent years and caution will be taken, but as a lawyer, I will never stand with the party to undermine the judicial process,” he added.
The ADC has been embroiled in a series of legal disputes over its leadership structure and the conduct of its state congresses.
In July, the Court of Appeal in Abuja, in a split decision, upheld an earlier judgment restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising state congresses organised by committees appointed by the David Mark-led caretaker leadership.
The party’s leadership crisis took another turn on November 5, when the Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the Mark-led national leadership and invalidated the process that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election. The ADC has indicated plans to challenge the ruling.
