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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has inaugurated a National Reconciliation and Peace Committee to resolve grievances arising from its recent primary elections and strengthen unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Inaugurating the committee in Abuja on Wednesday, ADC National Chairman David Mark said the initiative intends to heal divisions, rebuild trust and ensure all members remain valued within the party.
The party’s primary elections, held in May, and the subsequent release of the candidates’ list by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) triggered mixed reactions among members, with some party leaders expressing dissatisfaction with the outcomes.
Mark acknowledged that while the primaries produced candidates for the 2027 elections, they also left some aspirants and their supporters disappointed and aggrieved.
He urged successful candidates to regard their victories as a responsibility rather than a reason to sideline those they defeated, stressing that unsuccessful aspirants remained important to the party.
According to him, the ADC’s immediate priority is to build a united and disciplined political platform before the 2027 elections. He said the reconciliation committee would engage aggrieved members, listen to their concerns, and work to restore confidence within the party.
Mark also directed the committee to establish zonal sub-committees to sustain engagement with members across the country.
He warned party members against internal sabotage and revenge politics, saying there should be no permanent winners or losers within the ADC because all members belonged to the same political family.
The national chairman said the ADC could not afford to approach the 2027 elections as a divided party and urged members to respect democratic processes while resolving disagreements without weakening the organisation.
He appealed to aggrieved members to embrace reconciliation, while calling on successful candidates to reach out to their former opponents and unsuccessful aspirants to remain committed to the party.
Mark described the reconciliation exercise as an opportunity for the ADC to demonstrate the values of the Nigeria it seeks to build, where differences are handled maturely, diversity is respected, and disputes are resolved peacefully.
Responding on behalf of the committee, its chairman, Tunde Ogbeha, said members were aware of the challenges before them and prepared to listen to grievances, heal divisions and rebuild trust within the party.
Ogbeha acknowledged that the primaries and other political processes had created tensions across several states but said the issues could be resolved through dialogue and fairness.
He urged members to place Nigeria first, the party second and personal interests last, assuring that the committee would uphold justice, transparency and fairness in its engagements.
He also urged aggrieved aspirants and their supporters to remain patient and committed to the ADC, noting that those who did not secure tickets for the 2027 elections would have opportunities to contest future elections.
