Dare Babalola
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, on Friday criticised a faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President, David Mark.
He accused the group of relying on “emotional reasoning and blackmail” in addressing its ongoing leadership crisis.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Keyamo said the dispute within the party is fundamentally a legal matter that cannot be resolved through sentiment or political pressure.
“The David Mark’s faction of the ADC really think they can use emotional reasoning and blackmail to bluff their way out of a purely legal conundrum they brought upon themselves. Unfortunately for them, law does not admit of sentiment,” he wrote.
The minister stressed that legal disputes are determined by facts, evidence and the interpretation of laws, rather than sympathy or political considerations. He also dismissed ongoing arguments around the legal doctrine of status quo ante bellum, describing them as distractions from the core issues.
According to him, the more pressing concern is a pending court case challenging the leadership of the party, instituted by a duly elected Deputy National Chairman.
“All those who are arguing about ‘status quo ante bellum’ are dispensing their time and energy chasing shadows and not the substance,” Keyamo stated.
He warned that as long as the matter remains before the court, actions taken by any faction of the party could ultimately be rendered invalid, particularly after the deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the nomination of candidates.
“The implication is that the ADC may end up having no candidate for the election,” he cautioned.
Keyamo further argued that INEC’s decision to withhold recognition from the feuding factions should be seen as a proactive measure aimed at preventing a more severe outcome for the party.
“Instead of vilifying INEC, the ADC should rather thank INEC for this timely action of de-recognising both factions before the close of the window for nominating candidates,” he said.
He added that the electoral body’s move serves as a warning, giving the party an opportunity to resolve its internal crisis, seek an accelerated hearing in court, or explore alternative political arrangements.
The minister also dismissed allegations that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or INEC played any role in the ADC’s internal problems.
“To keep blaming imaginary opponents or INEC is purely mischievous,” he said, noting that the party’s leaders should have sought proper legal guidance before attempting to take over an existing political platform.
Reacting to reports that the faction plans to proceed with its congresses and national convention despite INEC’s position and a ruling of the Court of Appeal, Keyamo said the government would not interfere.
“They say they will proceed with their congresses and Convention despite INEC’s decision and the ruling of the Court of Appeal. That is fine by us,” he added.
In a concluding remark, Keyamo issued a veiled warning to the party, suggesting that its current actions could be self-defeating.
“Never interrupt your opponent when he is making a mistake,” he stated.
The ADC has been embroiled in a deepening leadership tussle in recent weeks, with multiple factions laying claim to the party’s structure, raising concerns about its readiness for upcoming elections.
