Published by Osasere Edomwonyi Ikpoba
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has taken a decisive step to mend internal fractures arising from its recently concluded primary elections, inaugurating a National Reconciliation and Peace Committee tasked with healing wounds, rebuilding trust, and unifying the party ahead of the 2027 general elections. The ceremony, held on Wednesday at the ADC national secretariat in Abuja, was presided over by the party's National Chairman, Senator David Mark, who delivered a stern warning against internal sabotage and revenge politics, declaring that the ADC could not afford to approach the 2027 elections as a divided house.
The ADC primary elections, which took place in May 2026, produced winners and candidates for various positions across the country, with the party's list subsequently released by the Independent National Electoral Commission. However, the outcomes elicited mixed reactions among party members, generating disappointments and grievances among some aspirants and their supporters. Mark acknowledged these realities, stating that while an election may determine who carries the party's flag, it must never determine who belongs to the ADC. He urged successful candidates to see their victories as a responsibility rather than an opportunity to exclude, humiliate, or marginalise their former opponents. "Those who did not emerge victorious remain valuable members of the ADC. Their experience, networks, structures and commitment remain important assets," Mark said.
The committee was established in line with Article 9.1 of the ADC Constitution and Article 6.3 on the party's "Handshake Philosophy" of building bridges across differences. Mark outlined the committee's terms of reference, which include engaging aspirants, candidates, party leaders, and stakeholders in constructive dialogue to identify grievances and address legitimate concerns. The committee is also expected to promote responsible communication, discourage inflammatory statements and unnecessary litigation, and recommend practical measures for the integration of unsuccessful aspirants and their supporters into the party's structures. Mark further directed the committee to establish zonal sub-committees for continuous engagement and monitoring across the six geopolitical zones.
In a clear warning to party members, Mark declared: "There must be no internal sabotage. No politics of revenge. No permanent winners and no permanent losers. We are one political family". He stressed that the 2027 general elections would require a disciplined, coordinated, and united ADC. "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," he said. Mark appealed to aggrieved members to give reconciliation a chance, urged successful candidates to extend a hand of fellowship to their former opponents, and called on unsuccessful aspirants to remain committed to the party's broader vision. He described the reconciliation exercise as an opportunity for the ADC to demonstrate internally the values of the Nigeria it seeks to build—where differences are managed with maturity, diversity is respected, and disputes are resolved peacefully.
The National Chairman also addressed the constitutional rights of members to seek justice, but he emphasised that where disputes could be resolved through dialogue and internal mechanisms, those avenues should be given priority. He charged the committee to "engage aspirants, candidates, party leaders and stakeholders in constructive dialogue to identify grievances, address legitimate concerns and rebuild trust," and to "promote responsible communication and discourage inflammatory statements, unnecessary litigation and actions capable of deepening divisions". "No political structure, relationship, experience or commitment developed during the primaries should be wasted," Mark told the committee. He urged the committee to "build bridges, heal wounds, restore confidence and bring our members together".
Responding on behalf of the committee, its chairman, Senator Tunde Ogbeha, accepted the responsibility with a full understanding of the challenges involved and pledged to do everything within the committee's capacity to achieve its objectives. Ogbeha acknowledged that the primaries and other party processes had left some members wounded, but expressed confidence that the grievances could be resolved. "There is no doubt that injury have been caused in one way or the other through primaries and other working structure in our respective states, but it's not impossible that these issues can be arrested and will work in the interest of the party," Ogbeha said. He appealed to members to subordinate personal ambitions to the larger interests of the country and the party, stressing that the committee's assignment was tied to the ADC's broader political objective of changing the narrative in Nigeria by winning the next election. Ogbeha urged unsuccessful aspirants to remain committed to the party, noting that the loss of one political contest should not end their ambitions. "If we don't succeed in what we are looking for this time around, four years is not too long. There will be another opportunity to present yourself," he added. He pledged that the committee would pursue justice and reconciliation with integrity and place the collective interest above individual ambitions. "We are going to be honest. We are going to be transparent and as much as possible, do the best we can to reconcile our party, and we ensure that this party is supreme to other individual interest," Ogbeha said.
The committee is headed by Senator Tunde Ogbeha as chairman, with Senator Oserheimen Osunbor serving as deputy chairman. Other members include Dr Ahmad Ajuji, Barrister Musa Elayo, Senator Andrew Uchendu, Dr Bon Unachukwu, Mr Kunle Ige, Hon. Hajia Rabi Sule, and Hon. Abubakar Kanike. Peter Oyewale, Esq., serves as secretary, while Isaac Dare Oketade is deputy secretary. The committee will also collaborate with six zonal legal advisers to coordinate its activities and engagements across the respective zones. The composition of the committee reflects a deliberate effort to ensure broad representation from across the country's diverse geopolitical zones.
The inauguration of the reconciliation committee comes amid heightened political activity as the ADC positions itself as a formidable opposition force ahead of the 2027 elections. The party has been engaging in broader opposition coalition talks, including participation in the G100 summit of opposition parties, where it has pushed for structured negotiations aimed at building a common platform. Despite these external engagements, the ADC has made it clear that it is also preparing to stand on its own, with party officials stating that the ADC could defeat President Bola Tinubu in 2027 without relying on alliances. The party's National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, had earlier indicated that the party would soon constitute a National Reconciliation Committee to resolve post-primary grievances and rebuild relationships among members ahead of the general election.
The reconciliation effort is seen as critical to the ADC's prospects in 2027. The party, which has positioned itself as a vehicle for opposition forces seeking to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress, cannot afford internal disunity if it hopes to make significant electoral gains. The primaries, which were conducted across the country, exposed fault lines within the party, with some aspirants feeling marginalised or disadvantaged by the processes. The committee's success in addressing these grievances will determine whether the ADC can present a united front to the electorate. Mark's emphasis on the party's "Handshake Philosophy" and his warning against internal sabotage reflect a recognition that the ADC's biggest threat may come from within, rather than from its political opponents.
For the aggrieved aspirants and their supporters, the committee offers a platform to air their grievances and seek redress. For the party leadership, it is an opportunity to demonstrate that the ADC is serious about building a disciplined and inclusive political organisation. As Ogbeha noted, the committee's responsibility is not just healing wounds but ensuring that the ADC achieves its objective of changing the narrative in Nigeria by winning the next election. The coming weeks and months will test whether the committee can deliver on its mandate and whether party members are willing to embrace the spirit of reconciliation that Mark has called for. The ADC's ability to heal its internal divisions and present a united front will be a defining factor in its performance in the 2027 general elections.
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