From Victor Osula, Abuja
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has dismissed reports of ongoing coalition talks with the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), declaring that its primary focus is a determined legal effort to overturn what it described as “illegal” actions taken against its leadership by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a statement issued on Monday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the circulating reports suggesting that the ADC was engaging in backchannel negotiations with another political party ahead of a pending court judgment were false and misleading.
“Our attention has been drawn to a story in circulation that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is in talks with another political party, specifically the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), in anticipation of its court judgment. We would like to state categorically that this is not true,” Abdullahi stated.
The party emphasised that no form of coalition or alliance discussion is currently underway, insisting that speculation about political realignments is unfounded.
“The coalition leadership is not having any such conversation with any political party at the moment,” the statement noted.
Instead, the ADC said it is fully committed to pursuing legal redress over what it termed undue interference in its internal affairs.
The party accused INEC, alongside “agents of the ruling party,” of taking steps that undermine its leadership structure and violate democratic norms.
“We are fully committed to ensuring that the illegal action taken against our leadership by INEC and other agents of the ruling party is upturned,” the party stated, underscoring the urgency and significance of the legal battle.
Framing the dispute as a broader constitutional and democratic issue, the ADC warned that the outcome of the case could set a critical precedent for the survival of Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.
“We believe that this is the only path to safeguarding the rule of law and ensuring that multiparty democracy survives in Nigeria,” it added.
While ruling out immediate coalition talks, the party reiterated its openness to future collaboration among opposition forces, but stressed that such engagements would not come at the expense of its current legal fight.
“While we are open to expanding the coalition to bring all opposition elements in the country together to rescue our country, we remain clear about the responsibility that this moment has imposed on us. We will not abdicate that responsibility,” the statement said.
The ADC also rejected claims suggesting it may abandon its platform or defect ahead of the anticipated court ruling, describing such assertions as premature and speculative.
“Therefore, any suggestion that we are considering abandoning the ADC is preemptive and speculative, and should be ignored,” Abdullahi stated.
On the judiciary, the party expressed cautious optimism, despite raising concerns over alleged pressure on democratic institutions. It maintained that the courts would rise to the occasion and uphold justice.
“Notwithstanding the flagrant bastardisation of democratic institutions, the ADC leadership remains confident that the judicial institutions will, at this defining moment, resist the pressure to be complicit in undermining Nigeria’s democracy,” the statement concluded.
