By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
Ahead of the next year’s general election, the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Senator David Mark has called on the aggrieved members of the part to give reconciliation a chance.
Mark also advised successful candidates of the ADC to extend a hand of fellowship to fellow contestants, the unsuccessful aspirants to remain committed to the larger vision, while its leaders to lead by example.
The ADC National Chairman made the call while inaugurating the party’s national reconciliation and peace committee in Abuja on Wednesday.
The committee has Senator Tunde Ogbeha as Chairman with ten other members.
The ADC, Mark said, must demonstrate internally the kind of Nigeria it seeks to build externally: a Nigeria where differences are managed with maturity, diversity is respected and disputes are resolved peacefully.
He tasked the members on the pertinent need to build a united political platform capable of winning the confidence of Nigerians in 2027.
According to Mark, a former President of the Senate, ” The ADC is founded on the principles of democracy, inclusion, justice, consultation and our Handshake Philosophy. Article 6.3 of our Constitution expressly commits members to building bridges across differences.
“That principle is particularly important at this stage of our political journey.
“Our recently concluded primaries produced winners, but they also produced disappointments and grievances. These are realities we must acknowledge and address.
“An election may determine who carries the flag, but it must never determine who belongs to the Party.
“Those who did not emerge victorious remain valuable members of the ADC. Their experience, networks, structures and commitment remain important assets.
“Equally, those who emerged victorious must recognise that victory comes with responsibility. It is not a license to exclude, humiliate or marginalise others.
“Our real challenge is not the ADC member who contested against you. Our real challenge is to build a united political platform capable of winning the confidence of Nigerians in 2027.
“This is why the National Working Committee has established this Committee in accordance with Article 9.1 of the ADC Constitution”, he said.
Continuing, he said, “Let us forgive where necessary, apologise where required, correct what must be corrected and rebuild the confidence that may have been lost.
“The ADC must demonstrate internally the kind of Nigeria we seek to build externally: a Nigeria where differences are managed with maturity, diversity is respected and disputes are resolved peacefully.
Responding after the inauguration, the Chairman of the committee, Senator Tunde Ogbeha appealed to all aggrieved members and stakeholders to embrace dialogue and reconciliation in the larger interest of ADC and “our collective aspiration for a better Nigeria”.
“Together, we can turn our differences into strength and emerge as a stronger, united and formidable party ahead of the 2027 general elections”, he said.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
