The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ebonyi State has warned of infiltration into the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party, in a statement on Monday, cautioned members against sabotage as it inaugurated its State Transition Committee ahead of its ward, local government and state congresses.
“Let me make it clear: anyone here pretending to be in ADC while working for APC, PDP, or any other party is in the wrong place,” it said, stressing that the warning was necessary as part of the party’s efforts to reposition its structures and prepare for the 2027 general elections.
Naija News reports that the state leader of the party, Sunday Opoke, alleged that some individuals parading as leaders of the party were loyal to the ruling government and were working to frustrate the ADC’s growth.
Opoke, who was the 2023 governorship candidate of the Young Progressives Party in the state, warned that betrayal and internal wrangling could derail the party’s ambitions if not checked.
The ADC leader lamented what he described as the steady erosion of public institutions and worsening socio-economic conditions in the country.
According to him, Nigeria is on the brink, with governance failures deepening poverty and insecurity.
“Everything we used to know as functional in this country has been eroded. Today, if you are in a government school, it is as if you are not in school. In our time, it was the reverse. Today, there is no functional health system. Poverty is widespread. We are under what can best be described as kleptocratic governance,” he said.
He insisted that Nigerians could no longer afford to remain passive, stressing that the ADC emerged to offer credible leadership and restore hope.
Opoke further alleged that the Ebonyi State Government had planted loyalists within the party to hijack its structures, claiming that some individuals presenting themselves as ADC executives were political appointees serving commissioners, council chairmen and development centre coordinators.
“If you are here to compromise or act as a stooge of the government, the system will eject you. We are building a transparent structure anchored on good governance, inclusiveness, responsiveness, respect for the rule of law, and prioritising the welfare and security of Nigerians,” he added.
The party chieftain also decried the level of insecurity across the country, saying governance must prioritise citizens’ safety and welfare.
“People are massacred unchecked and unabated. Nigerians can no longer afford three square meals. They are bleeding and asking when relief will come. But there is hope,” he said.
Inaugurating the Transition Committee, Chief Ogbonnia Oko Enyim described the exercise as a decisive step to reclaim the party from alleged hijackers and rebuild its structures.
He said the committee was constituted on the principles of courage, conviction and due process.
“The mandate is clear: to restore order and strengthen the structures of the party across the 13 local government areas of Ebonyi State. The committee is expected to prepare the party for credible congresses and electoral victory in 2027,” he stated.
Enyim stressed that the ADC would not be weakened or turned into a platform for personal ambition.
“We stand for internal democracy, unity, discipline and responsible leadership. To the members of this committee, history has placed a responsibility on your shoulders. Build a structure that reflects the true will of our members and the aspirations of the people,” he charged.
Also speaking, Chairman of the ADC Movement in the state, Solomon Adum, urged members not to succumb to alleged harassment or pressure from the ruling party.
He assured that the ADC would deploy every legal means to protect its members and resist intimidation.
Adum called for unity and commitment, noting that many Nigerians were looking to the party for solutions to hunger, insecurity, economic hardship and governance challenges.
The inauguration ended with party leaders reaffirming their resolve to strengthen internal structures, mobilise grassroots support and position the ADC for the 2027 polls.
