By Omeiza Ajayi

ABUJA: A coalition of civil society organizations under the aegis of Nigeria Democratic Rights Advocacy NDRA on Tuesday declared that the ruling All Progressives Congress APC is now rattled by the growing influence of the opposition African Democratic Congress ADC, especially in northern Nigeria, warning of a plot to weaken the ADC.

The allegation by the group was contained in a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Hon. Julius Aondowase.

Spokesman of the APC, Felix Morka did not immediately respond to Vanguard’s attempts at getting the response of his party.

According to the coalition, the rising profile of the ADC, especially in the Northern part of the country has caused the presidency to be unsettled and upset with a particular prominent appointee of the APC administration from the North.

Aondowase said his group got credible intelligence that the said top Northern politician, in a spirited effort to stem the tide of the ADC convened a meeting on Monday involving several top legal experts with discussions centered on strategies that could be deployed to hinder the ADC from participating in next year’s general election.

“We have it from a reliable source that a meeting was convened on Monday with senior legal minds in Abuja.

“The purpose of the meeting was to explore all possible options that would compromise the judicial system to stop the ADC from participating in the election next year.

“We are also aware that the decision to get the ADC off the ballot in the upcoming election was handed down to the top Northern politician.

“It is the last joker by the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress to ensure a system of control over all viable opposition parties ahead of the election next year.

“After failing in the attempt to compromise the leadership structure of the ADC, the ruling party has now resorted to the last option of using the judicial process to stop the ADC,” the statement claimed.

The NDRA specifically claimed that the ongoing litigation challenging the authenticity of the Senator David Mark-led National Working Committee of the ADC is being orchestrated by the ruling party.

“It is clear to us that the APC is the brain behind the sinister conspiracy to disqualify the David Mark leadership of the ADC, with the sole purpose of submitting the ADC to the whims of the ruling party,” the statement added.

Aondowase, however noted that the Nigeria Democratic Rights Advocacy is actively working with other civil rights organizations and professional bodies across the country, and is putting the relevant countries in notice through their embassies in Nigeria, that any attempt to cancel active opposition in Nigeria would be rejected and resisted.

He said the plan by the ruling party is to effect the delegitimization of the ADC through what he called the obnoxious revised Electoral Act, which would technically disenfranchise opposition leaders in the ADC, locking them out of contesting in the 2027 general elections.

“The script that is being played by the government is clear: lock out all potential opponents against the ruling party and only the pliable opposition will be allowed to contest in the elections.

“Their agenda is to use the judiciary to eliminate the ADC, which is the most credible opposition party and by extension, through the instrumentality of the jaundiced Electoral Act amendment, disenfranchise all potential opponents of President Bola Tinubu.

“All civil society groups in Nigeria and concerned stakeholders in the democracy of this country are on red alert.

“The action to compromise our democracy and make the APC the only option on the ballot without a choice of a credible opponent will not be tolerated or accepted.

“We are by this press statement, therefore, calling the attention of all stakeholders, foreign governments and the generality of the masses of Nigeria to the machinations of the APC to cancel credible opposition, specifically the ADC from participating in the elections next year.

“We also send a note of warning those involved in this plot to put their focus squarely on the job of providing adequate security and welfare for the people of Nigeria who are daily being attacked, maimed and unalived by ravenous bandits and criminals,” the group said.