By Frank Ulom
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Cross River State has rejected a planned inauguration of a Multi-Member Registration and Revalidation (MMRR) Committee across the state’s 18 local government areas, describing the move as unauthorised and unknown to the party’s leadership.
The party disclosed this during a press conference held on Tuesday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Calabar.
Speaking on behalf of the state chairman, Dr John Ogar, the party’s Director of Policy and Strategy and Vice Chairman for the Central Senatorial District, Dr MacFarlane Ejah, said the press briefing was convened to address what he described as an attempt by unknown individuals to inaugurate a committee without the approval of the party’s recognised leadership.
“The incident that necessitates this press conference is the planned inauguration of the MMRR Committee of the 18 local government areas by a group unknown to the state leadership of ADC Cross River State,” Ejah said.
He explained that the composition of the state MMRR committee circulating in the public domain was not recognised by the party’s leadership, stressing that the official state structure was not involved in the submission or publication of the names.
According to him, the committee’s composition is alien to the party’s leadership and was put together without consultation or approval from the recognised state executive.
Ejah further alleged that members of the group behind the move had refused to acknowledge the authority of the state leadership despite being informed that the process lacked official approval.
“Even in its alien status, the committee, with impunity and flagrant disregard for the constituted state leadership, has refused to recognise the state leadership, with an ulterior motive to hijack the party,” he said.
He added that the party leadership was aware of the individuals involved and accused them of having a history of undermining political processes in the state.
The ADC Vice Chairman maintained that the party in Cross River State operates as a single structure and does not recognise any faction.
He reiterated that the state executive committee led by Dr John Ogar remains the only recognised leadership of the party in the state.
Ejah also disclosed that a meeting reportedly scheduled to hold at Ascort Pub in Calabar in connection with the planned inauguration was halted because it was not authorised by the party leadership.
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“As an opposition party committed to people-centred development, we will not tolerate any actions that encourage impunity or impose the will of a few individuals over the collective interest of party members,” he said.
The party urged members and residents of the state to remain calm and vigilant, assuring that the leadership would not allow any individual or group to impose themselves on the party’s structure.
Ejah also expressed appreciation to members of the party in the state for their loyalty and commitment to the growth of the ADC, urging them to remain steadfast as the party continues to pursue democratic ideals and people-centred governance.
