The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has called on the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to appreciate the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its decision to derecognise factions of the party’s leadership.
Keyamo made the remarks in a statement on X on Friday, following INEC’s action affecting the faction linked to Senator David Mark. He emphasized that the issue is legal, not political.
“The David Mark’s faction of the ADC really think they can use emotional reasoning and blackmail to bluff their way out of a purely legal conundrum they brought upon themselves. Unfortunately for them, law does not admit of sentiment. Decisions are based on facts, evidence, and the interpretation of laws, rather than on sympathy, emotion or political considerations,” he said.
The minister dismissed calls for maintaining the status quo, pointing out that the main concern is a pending legal challenge over the party’s leadership.
“All those who are arguing about ‘status quo ante bellum’ are dispensing their time and energy chasing shadows and not the substance. This is because whether INEC recognises either faction for now is irrelevant: what is relevant is that there is a challenge regarding the take-over of the Party pending in court by a duly elected Deputy National Chairman,” Keyamo stated.
He warned that the unresolved dispute could affect the ADC’s participation in future elections.
“As long as that case remains in court, all the actions of either faction may end up being nugatory after the deadline for nominations of candidates by INEC. The implication is that the ADC may end up having no candidate for the election,” he added.
Keyamo described INEC’s decision as a timely warning rather than an attack, advising the party to resolve its internal crisis, seek an accelerated court hearing, or explore alternative political options.
“Therefore, instead of vilifying INEC, the ADC should rather thank INEC for this timely action of de-recognising both factions before the close of the window for nominating candidates. It has duly forewarned the party of the danger ahead,” he said.
Reacting to claims that the ruling APC or INEC caused the crisis, Keyamo rejected the notion: “To keep blaming imaginary opponents or INEC is purely mischievous: neither APC nor INEC prodded these grown adults and supposedly ‘experienced’ politicians to go and hijack an existing platform without sound legal advice,” he stated.
On the ADC’s plan to proceed with congresses despite INEC’s decision, Keyamo concluded: “They say they will proceed with their congresses and convention despite INEC’s decision and the ruling of the Court of Appeal. That is fine by us. Never interrupt your opponent when he is making a mistake.”