Austin Okai: ADC Is One Under The Leadership Of David Mark

Member, African Democratic Congress, (ADC), Austin Okai describes ADC as united under the leadership of former Senate President, David Mark.

A member of the African Democratic Congress, (ADC), Austin Okai, has said the party remains united under the leadership of former Senate President, David Mark, expressing confidence in its direction.

Okay, while speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Friday, said the David Mark’s leadership is the only authentic and recognized one in the ADC.

“ADC is one under the leadership of David Mac. As it stands now, the leadership of David Mac is the only authentic and identified leaders of the ADC has, which INEC before taking that decision has had series of correspondence with them,” he stated.

Adding, Okai dismissed claims of a leadership crisis within the party, insisting there was no “hijacking” of its structure, as Nafiu Bala was part of the process that produced David Mark as the party’s national leader.

“No. There’s one issue about this. There’s nothing like hijacking in this process. Nafiu Bala was part of the whole exercise that led to the absorption of David Mark as the national leader or the national chairman of the ADC. So there’s nothing like two factions, David Mark faction or Nafiu faction. So when someone says there’s a hijacking, there’s nothing of such. The whole thing happened and INEC is the witness to the exchange of powers between David Mark and Nwosu and Nafiu Bala led former ADC. That’s just the reality,” he insisted.

Responding to questions on the party’s restructuring, Okai said it centres on the adoption of a new constitution unveiled at the party’s last national convention.

“We have a new constitution. It’s part of the restructure of the ADC, which was unveiled in the last national convention to the leaderships of the party,” he said.

He noted that the ADC has become the platform adopted by a coalition of key political actors across party lines, stressing that the alliance—not the party alone—has driven its growing popularity.

“You see the who’s who as far as Nigerian politics is concerned that converged under the leadership of Kwali under the coalition that adopted ADC. Take note: coalition adopted ADC. Coalition made ADC popular. Not that ADC made the coalition popular. These are two different things. It is an amalgam of men of high political caliber who are experienced in various political leaderships as far as Nigeria politics is concerned that converged,” he noted.

Addressing to from President Tinubu, Okai described the remarks as political rhetoric, suggesting they reflect growing concern within the ruling party over the rising profile of the opposition.

“That is the President speaking politics. For him reacting to that shows that he is feeling the heat.”

He added: “We were not expecting him to react to that. Some of his spokespersons have reacted to our action, but for the commander-in-chief at this moment, even when the campaigning has not started, reacting to our action, that means he’s aware of the realities on ground,” Okai said.

Okai further dismissed allegations that the party had been “privatised,” insisting that the transition of leadership was transparent and witnessed by the INEC under the leadership of Mahmood Yakubu.

According to him, the handover from the former leadership to the current structure led by David Mark followed due process, adding that ongoing legal matters will ultimately affirm the legitimacy of the party’s leadership.

“The President is aware, the APC is aware, those with Nwosu are aware that their timing is running out should we come out of these court cases successively. And that’s why you see the President says we privatised. There’s nothing like privatised. INEC witnessed it under the leadership of Professor Mahmood. He witnessed the exchange of power between Nwosu-led ADC that had done over twenty years in the leadership of the party to David Mark leaderships, which is a reality and Nigerians are aware of it. So there’s nothing like privatise. When the President says that, it shows it’s a campaign language, which is expected, and it shows the President is jittery already. That’s just the reality on ground,” Okai maintained.

Addressing concerns over internal unity, Okai acknowledged that the ADC is facing challenges, describing them as part of the political hurdles the party is working to overcome.

“That’s the reality. Sitting down here and saying there’s no challenge would mean it’s a lie. It is part of the political obstacles which we are looking at to surmount it any moment from now. It is a reality.”

On the ADC’s strength across states, Okai noted the ADC has recorded nationwide gains, with only a few internal issues in some states.

“As it stands today, we have done recruitment across… except some few states that we are having little issues with, only one state as it stands today,” he said.

Okai dismissed claims that the party is a loose coalition of aggrieved leaders without structure, arguing that Nigeria’s politics is now driven by movements and mass influence.

“People exercise political structures. And whoever understands Nigeria politics, will see that the like of Kwankwaso and his Kwankwasiyya movement is not some political structure, then the person is far from reality. Are you talking of Obidient, the group that cut across 36 states? And you say it’s not well structured? Or are we saying the like of Atiku or Rotimi Amaechi? The reality is that whoever says there’s no structure does not understand what political structure is all about. It’s about Nigerians, the current administration, and what they really want,” he said.

Speaking on the challenge of presenting a consensus candidate ahead of the 2027 elections, Okai said it would require sacrifice from all major stakeholders.

“That’s where sacrifice comes in. Politics is two things: a game of personal interest, it can be national interest, it can be state interest, it can be tribal interest. So unless they want to behave like Nafiu Bala. If not, they must be ready to make sacrifice. None of them engaged in the politics without having his or her own intention. They all have a personal interest. They all have a personal ambition, which is to some is for the national interest, to some is for the long-standing personal ideology. They must be ready because what the ADC is looking at is how do we come together after consensus or the primary, which is likely going to be direct, should the consensus agreement fail,” he stressed.

He noted that figures such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Aminu Tambuwal and Rotimi Amaechi must be prepared to accept either a consensus arrangement or outcome of direct primaries, adding that the ADC will ultimately field only one presidential candidate.