The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has inaugurated a National Reconciliation and Peace Committee to address grievances arising from its recently concluded primaries and strengthen unity within the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The committee was inaugurated in Abuja on Wednesday by the party’s National Chairman, Senator David Mark, who said the initiative was necessary to heal divisions, rebuild trust and ensure that members who felt aggrieved after the primaries remained part of the party’s political structure.
Mark acknowledged that while the primaries produced candidates who emerged victorious, the exercises also resulted in disappointment and grievances among some aspirants and their supporters. He said the party must now shift its attention from internal contests to building a united platform capable of competing effectively in 2027.
According to the ADC chairman, winning a primary should not give successful candidates the impression that they can exclude or marginalise those who contested against them. He urged the winners to regard their victories as a responsibility and to extend a hand of fellowship to their former opponents.
Mark also appealed to unsuccessful aspirants and their supporters to remain committed to the party, stressing that their experience, political networks, structures and commitment remained valuable to the ADC even after they failed to secure tickets.
He said the committee's responsibilities include engaging aspirants, candidates, party leaders and other stakeholders in dialogue, identifying legitimate grievances, addressing concerns and rebuilding confidence among members. It is also expected to recommend practical measures for integrating unsuccessful aspirants and their supporters into the party's structures.
The committee will establish zonal sub-committees to support continuous engagement and follow-up across the country. Mark charged its members to approach their assignment with fairness, neutrality, maturity, sincerity and confidentiality.
He further warned against internal sabotage and revenge politics, urging party leaders, candidates and members to support the reconciliation process. Mark said the ADC could not afford to enter the 2027 elections as a divided organisation, particularly as it seeks to present itself to Nigerians as a credible political alternative.
“There must be no internal sabotage. No politics of revenge. No permanent winners and no permanent losers. We are one political family,” Mark said.
The chairman of the reconciliation committee, Senator Tunde Ogbeha, accepted the assignment on behalf of the members and acknowledged the responsibility involved in resolving the disagreements generated by the primaries and other internal political processes.
Ogbeha said the committee would listen to aggrieved members, seek ways of resolving their concerns and work towards rebuilding trust. He appealed to members to place the interest of Nigeria and the party above individual political ambitions.
He also urged aggrieved aspirants to remain patient, reminding them that losing a primary does not permanently close the door to future political opportunities. He pledged that the committee would pursue its work with honesty, transparency, justice and diligence.
Ogbeha will be assisted by Senator Oserheimen Osunbor as deputy chairman. Other members include Dr Ahmad Ajuji, Barrister Musa Elayo, Senator Andrew Uchendu, Dr Bon Unachukwu, Mr Kunle Ige, Hajia Rabi Sule and Hon. Abubakar Kanike. Peter Oyewale serves as secretary, while Isaac Dare Oketade is deputy secretary. Six zonal legal advisers will also work with the committee in their respective zones.
The move follows earlier concerns within the ADC over divisions linked to its primary elections. Before the committee was formally inaugurated, the party had already announced plans to reconcile aggrieved members and urged its governorship candidates to avoid actions that could deepen internal divisions ahead of the general election.
The reconciliation effort will be important for the ADC as it moves from the internal contest for party tickets to the broader challenge of mobilising voters across the country. Resolving disputes early could help the party retain the structures and political support of aspirants who failed to secure nominations, while unresolved grievances could create further divisions as the election approaches.
For now, the committee's success will depend largely on whether it can move beyond appeals for unity and produce solutions that aggrieved members consider fair and credible. The party's leadership has made clear that reconciliation is intended not only to settle immediate disputes but also to preserve the political relationships and organisational strength needed for the 2027 contest.
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