Elections: ADC National Leadership Meets With Former President Obasanjo
Sekinat Salam-Opebiyi, Abeokuta.
As Nigeria looks forward to the conduct of the 2023 presidential election come 25th February, the national leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has paid former President Olusegun Obasanjo a visit at his residence in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, South-west Nigeria.
The team, led by the party national chairman, Ralph Nwosu; chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Mani Ibrahim; and members of the party’s National Working Committee arrived in Abeokuta around 10: 30 a.m local time and headed straight into a meeting with the former president.
Speaking with the ADC stalwarts, Obasanjo disclosed that the global community, particularly the West African countries of Ghana, Togo and Cote d’Ivoire are seriously concerned about the outcome of the forthcoming general elections.
Obasanjo, who just returned from an official engagement in West Africa, urged Nigerians to strive toward giving their best and ensuring that the forthcoming general elections hold.
The former leader explained that the attention of the global communities is focused on the forthcoming general elections in Nigeria and, therefore, Nigerians as main stakeholders should contribute toward the success of the elections.
‘As you rightly said, we are in a critical period in Nigeria. In less than 3 weeks, we will be going to the poll to elect our leaders that will pilot the affairs of this country for the next four years from May. I hope nothing intervenes.
‘I have been in Togo, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire from the beginning of the week and from there, they are concerned about what happens in Nigeria, as every Nigerian knows.
‘So, even for them, Nigeria’s elections is of utmost importance.
‘My belief is that for us, who are directly involved, we cannot take it any less important. Therefore, I understand why you are here,’ said the former president of Nigeria.
Thereafter the team went into a closed door meeting with Obasanjo.
Though details of Obasanjo’s meeting with the party’s stalwarts were not made known to the press, the Board of Trustees’ chairman, Mani, who addressed journalists, however, disclosed that the top echelon of ADC was in Abeokuta to take “instructions and advice” from Obasanjo, whom he said has never ceased to provide the necessary direction for them.
‘The party needed to effect “certain realignments” before approaching the February 25th presidential election, particularly on how to collaborate and pool strength together toward enabling us to work as a unified front for the election.
‘We have taking lots of guidance from him which has helped us in the past.
‘As we are all aware, not only the country but also our party can be considered to be at the crossroad.
‘When you are at the crossroad, it is important that you make the right decisions so that you move in the correct direction; that is part of the wider consultation that has brought the members of the Board of Trustees, the national working committee, some of the candidates of our party to have this discussion with His Excellency, President Obasanjo.
“It is an ongoing process; the situation is still fluid, but we are hopeful that within the next 48 to 72 hours and through other series of meetings that we continue on this basis, we should be able to say clearly what the final decision is as to the direction our party is taking in the next general elections.
‘Mind you, this is one election in Nigeria that is going to be like none other like we have experienced in the past and as such, one cannot underrate the influence this type of discussion we have had today will bring to the outcome of the election at the end of the day.
‘We have not come to a definitive decision on that yet, but clearly our party is looking at the possibility of coming up with an arrangement that will allow us to announce what type of collaboration we are going to have with any party, be it Labour Party or otherwise,’ said Mani, the ADC Board of Trustees’ chairman.
Edited by Amaka E. Nliam
