Taiwo POPOOLA
The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has officially appointed and sworn in former Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Alhaji Rahman Owokoniran, as its South West Zonal Chairman.
The swearing-in ceremony was conducted under the authority of the party’s National Chairman, Senator David Mark, and included the inauguration of Owokoniran’s zonal executive committee.
In a statement released on Tuesday, party chieftain Mr Coker Onita dismissed reports of internal discord in the South West region, describing them as baseless and designed to mislead both party members and the public.
“For clarity, Hon. (Alhaji) Rahman Akanni Owokoniran was today formally inaugurated and sworn in as the South West Zonal Chairman of the ADC by the Deputy National Chairman, Dr Bamidele Ajadi, who is the highest-ranking national officer in the region, with the full endorsement and authority of the National Chairman, Senator David Mark, and the national leadership of the party,” Onita said.
The party rejected claims that the South West leadership had been disowned by the national body, calling such reports “entirely false, misleading, and deliberately intended to deceive.”
Onita further accused agents and supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, of attempting to destabilise the ADC in the South West through misinformation, highlighting the party’s growing influence and acceptance in the region.
He also dismissed a publication from a group calling itself the “ADC Lagos State Stakeholders Forum” as being from an “unknown and faceless entity” seeking to undermine the party, referring to its members as “fifth columnists.”
“In a democratic party, anonymous allegations are acts of subversion, not accountability. Those claiming to represent ADC should identify themselves with their positions and mandates,” Onita stated.
He added that while the party welcomes constructive debate and lawful engagement, it will resist attempts at infiltration or misinformation aimed at weakening its leadership.
The statement affirmed that the ADC remained united and committed to providing Nigerians with a credible alternative, emphasising that the South West leadership under Alhaji Rahman Owokoniran is legitimate, recognised, and fully supported by the national leadership of the party.
