By Austin Angwe, Makurdi
Nigerians have been invited to join the African Democratic Congress, ADC, describing the party as a coalition that has come to unit the people as well as to offer equal opportunities to them without discrimination.
Interim National Chairman of the party, Senator David Mark extended the invitation, Wednesday, in Makurdi, during the unveiling of the party and inauguration of its protem officials held at the party’s temporary secretariat located along Makurdi- Otukpo road in one of Senator Gabriel Suswam’s property the former PDP Secretariat.
Mark represented by Senator Suswam, explained that leadership of ADC decided to give ownership of the party to the people instead of single individuals like in the past, promising that leaders will only guide through directives for smooth operations.
He announced that ADC as a party has provisions for the youth, women, widows, orphans the old and people with disabilities without discrimination, warning supporters against agitations especially concerning the protem officials as its tenure would last only for one month and invited all those interested in the party to join without delay for equal opportunities.
On his part leader of the ADC in Benue State, Senator Gabriel Suswam disclosed that stakeholders during a meeting selected a seven member protem committee headed by Terngu Tsegba as State Chairman with Samson Okwu, State Secretary, adding that their tenure which is for the purpose of membership drive would last for one month.
He said three member committee comprising two men and one woman would serve as protem officials at the local government level with five persons at the ward level to comprise three men and two women respectively.
In separate goodwill massages, Chile Igbawua for zone A, Senator Orker Jev zone B and John Ngbece for zone C all promised to mobilize support in their various zones for the victory of the party come 2027.
Also speaking, National Vice Chairman of the ADC North Central Dr Peter Edeh lamented that the country was going through a period that called for serious concern which requires sober reflection, stressing that the present administration has inflicted pains to Nigerians in such a manner that has never happened before.
He insisted ADC should serve as an option given to Nigerians by God, pointing out that God has heard the cry of Nigerians and called on supporters to observe one minute silence for the repose of those that lost their lives as a result of Fulani herdsmen attacks in the state.
” When a man is marrying a new wife, he does so not for the old one to go for the new to take over.
” ADC in Benue came about in 2016 and the party got a seat in the Benue State House of Assembly from Konshisha through the help of Herman Hembe, the party have structures, therefore, the old members should not be chased away”. Edeh advised, warning that such attitude will create problems that would lead the party into litigations, something that is not good for a new political party.
He assured that ADC would bring Benue people out of bad governance, expressing optimism that the party capturing power in 2027 as a product of a coalition was history repeating itself as APC was also a product of coalition.
Edeh appealed to supporters to contribute whatever they have to the growth of the party especially that it has no money as a new party, accepting all new members into the party.
Inaugurating the seven member State Protem officials,the National Vice Chairman North Central of the ADC advised them to lead peacefully with the fear of God by accommodating all for success of the party in 2027 general elections both in the state and Abuja.
In his acceptance speech on behalf of members,Terngu Tsegba, former member representing Tarka/Gboko federal constituency, assured that the EXCO under his watch would lead with honesty using constitution of the party and that of the country.
He also promised to nurture the party to victory for it to provide good governance to Nigerians, security for the people especially those displaced in Benue for them to return back to their ancestral homes, scrap the Bureau for local government and chieftaincy affairs to grant the third tier of government full autonomy.
Tsegba equally pledged that ADC will run an all inclusive Government, ensure equitable distribution of resources and accommodate all shades of people and opinions, assuring that ADC leadership will be firm to ensure that the party spread across the state and called for sustained support.