David Mark holds meeting with representatives of ex-ADC lawmakers
David Mark, national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has held a “crucial meeting” with representatives of the party’s former federal lawmakers following the recent defections that hit the party at the national assembly.
On Tuesday, 17 members of the house of representatives defected from the party to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the house, read the defection notices during plenary.
The lawmakers, who represent 17 constituencies across the country, are Yusuf Datti (Kura/Madobi/Garun Mallam, Kano), Harris Okonkwo (Idemili north/Idemili douth, Anambra), Sani Adamu (Minjibir/Ungogo, Kano), Thaddeus Attah (Eti-Osa, Lagos), George Ozodinobi, deputy minority whip (Njikoka/Anaocha/Dunukofia, Anambra), Lilian Obiageli (Awka north/Awka south, Anambra), and Oluwaseyi Sowunmi (Ojo, Lagos).
The legislators also include Peter Anekwe (Anambra east/west, Anambra), Zakari Mukhtari (Tarauni, Kano), George Olawande (Amuwo Odofin, Lagos), Murphy Omoruyi (Egor/Ikpoba Okha, Edo), Umezuruike Manuchim (Port Harcourt I, Rivers), Emeka Idu (Onitsha north/south, Anambra), Jese Onuakalusi (Oshodi-Isolo, Lagos), Ifeanyi Uzokwe (Nnewi north/south/Ekwusigo, Anambra), Afam Ogene (Ogbaru, Anambra), and Kamilu Ado (Wudil/Garko, Kano).
Leke Abejide, lawmaker representing Yagba federal constituency of Kogi, also moved from the ADC to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The lawmakers attributed their defections to leadership and legal crises in their former party.
In a post via X, Kola Ologbondiyan, Mark’s technical adviser on strategic communication, said the party’s national chairman met with representatives of the federal legislators at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday.
“The representatives of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) former Federal Lawmakers in a crucial meeting with the party’s National Chairman, Senator David Mark, at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, Wednesday,” he wrote.
Ologbondiyan, however, did not give details of the meeting, while Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s spokesperson, is yet to issue a formal statement.
Meanwhile, the defection rocking the ADC also continued today, as Tony Nwoye, senator representing Anambra north, left for the NDC, making him the third senator to join the party within a week.
Nwoye announced his defection in a letter read during plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The lawmaker attributed his decision to “internal divisions and the ongoing multiple litigations at the federal high court”.
His defection comes a day after Victor Umeh, senator representing Anambra Central, left the ADC for the NDC, citing lingering divisions and litigations within the party.
Rufai Hanga, senator representing Kano Central, also recently joined the NDC from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), blaming internal crises and factional disputes for his action.
