A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Solomon Dalung, has criticised the party’s national secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, over the appointment of caretaker committees across the 36 states.
Dalung, a former minister of youth and sports development, made the remarks in a video posted on his Facebook page where he warned that the move could undermine the party’s pending appeal before the Supreme Court.
He alleged that appointment letters bearing Aregbesola’s signature had been circulated to members selected to oversee the party’s affairs in the states, despite an ongoing legal dispute over the legitimacy of the party structures.
“We woke up this morning with social media inundated with letters of appointment of caretaker committee members for the 36 states, signed by the national secretary of the party,” he said.
The ADC chieftain argued that the appointments involved individuals who had been removed from their positions by the Court of Appeal, noting that the party’s challenge against the decisions remained before the Supreme Court.
He described the appointments as a disregard for the judicial process, accusing the party leadership of acting in a manner that could pre-empt the apex court’s verdict.
“This action of the party is intended to undermine the integrity of the judiciary and pre-empt the decision on the matter before your lordships at the supreme court,” he said.
Dalung, who identified himself as a barrister of the Supreme Court, said he would not support any action that could compromise the rule of law.
“This act is unacceptable to right-thinking Nigerians and lovers of the principles of the rule of law and democracy. And as a minister in the temple of justice and a barrister of the supreme court, I will not stand with the ADC to undermine the judicial process,” he added.
He called on the party to suspend the inauguration of the caretaker committees scheduled for Wednesday until the Supreme Court delivers its judgment.
Dalung warned that going ahead with the exercise could weaken the party’s legal position and threaten its chances of participating in the 2027 general elections.
“Should the party proceed to inaugurate these persons, the consequences are obvious. It means the ADC is not committed to participating in the 2027 elections,” he said.
“The ADC cannot approach the supreme court to challenge the decision of the court of appeal, which affirmed the removal of these persons following the state congresses and national convention, and then turn around, while the appeal is pending, to invite the same persons and inaugurate them as chairmen of caretaker committees.”
He also questioned why Aregbesola alone signed the appointment letters, arguing that decisions of such magnitude should carry the signatures of both the national chairman and national secretary.
“This letter was unilaterally signed by the national secretary. Why did the national chairman not sign the appointment letters of the caretaker committees, whose members would be saddled with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the party in the states?” he queried.
Dalung said he had repeatedly cautioned against the appointments and made it clear that he was not in support of the party’s decision.
He further warned that the ADC leadership should take responsibility for any adverse consequences arising from the appointments rather than blame external forces if the Supreme Court rules against the party.
Describing such a setback as a “self-inflicted injury”, he urged the leadership to withdraw the appointment letters and await the court’s decision.
“Otherwise, the party is going to pay dearly for it, and I do not think the supreme court will sympathise with the party because this would amount to the ADC acting as the supreme court of Nigeria and determining what will happen,” he added.
