Ralph Nwosu, former national chairman of the African Democratic Congress, has said state party chairmen currently protesting the emergence of David Mark as national chairman were part of the process that produced him.
Nwosu spoke during an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday, insisting that those now raising objections had actively participated in meetings and decisions leading to the leadership transition.
He said the process spanned activities between 2024 and 2025, culminating in Mark’s emergence as chairman, with the involvement and endorsement of party stakeholders, including the aggrieved state chairmen.
“All the state chairmen that are now complaining were part of the meetings. They wrote to INEC and indicated their intention to return to the party. INEC then organised what we call alternative dispute resolution, and from there, we reabsorbed them,” he said.
According to him, the chairmen were present at key gatherings, including a meeting at the Yar’Adua Centre, where they openly supported the process.
“If you bring your records of July 2, they were all there. They were clapping. They were part of the programme that led to David Mark becoming national chairman,” he said.
Nwosu added that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was fully involved in the process, including a national executive committee (NEC) meeting held on July 29, 2025, where the agenda to select new leadership was clearly communicated.
He explained that multiple meetings were held prior to the transition, with all stakeholders, including the dissenting factions, in attendance.
The former chairman also noted that the new leadership structure reflected a balance between legacy members of the party and newer entrants, citing appointments of former members into key positions.
Nwosu said it was misleading for the aggrieved chairmen to claim they were unaware of the process, urging them to refer to documented records and media coverage of the events.
“The truth is that from Bala to all these state chairmen, they were there. INEC was there. The records are there,” he added.
