By our correspondent
Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has called on the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leadership to suspend the planned inauguration of caretaker committee chairmen involved in ongoing legal disputes, warning that proceeding could create further complications for the opposition party.
Dalung made the demand in a video in which he criticised the reported decision by the party’s National Secretary to appoint individuals whose appeals are still pending before the Supreme Court as chairmen of caretaker committees.
The former minister, who serves as Director of the Mandate Protection Directorate of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, expressed concern that the party could be repeating mistakes that have contributed to its growing legal challenges.
He argued that appointing individuals whose leadership positions are still being contested in court could undermine the judicial process and expose the party to additional litigation.
Dalung maintained that the ADC should exercise caution rather than take administrative decisions that could complicate matters before the courts.
He said he would not support any action by the party that could be interpreted as an attempt to undermine judicial proceedings, insisting that the proposed inauguration should be suspended until the outstanding legal issues are resolved.
His intervention comes amid an escalating leadership crisis within the ADC, following a Federal High Court judgment delivered in Abuja on November 5.
The court nullified the leadership structure headed by former Senate President David Mark and invalidated decisions taken by the affected caretaker committee, including the process that produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
The judgment followed a legal challenge instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former deputy national chairman of the party, who questioned the process through which Mark and other officials assumed leadership after the resignation of former national chairman Ralph Nwosu.
The ADC leadership rejected the ruling and initiated an appeal, while urging the Independent National Electoral Commission to take account of the pending legal proceedings.
Dalung’s latest warning has added another dimension to the party’s internal disagreements, raising questions about how its leadership intends to manage appointments and administrative activities while several legal disputes remain unresolved.
He urged party leaders to respect the judicial process and avoid decisions that could further weaken the party at a time when it is preparing for the 2027 general election.
The ADC is yet to have its reported decision on the proposed inauguration independently clarified in the available reports, while the outcome of the ongoing legal challenges remains crucial to determining the party’s leadership structure.
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