Edo ADC Congresses: Ex-youth parliament Speaker, party leaders call for unity, reconciliation

By Ozioruva Aliu

BENIN CITY — Barely 24 hours after the conclusion of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) congresses in Edo State, a former Speaker of the Edo Youth Parliament, Prince Fawaz Muhammad, has called on newly elected party executives to prioritise unity and reposition the party for future electoral success.

Muhammad, who is also an aspirant for Etsako West Constituency I in the Edo State House of Assembly, made the appeal in a statement issued on Sunday in Benin City.

He congratulated the newly elected state leadership led by Chief Tony Alile, as well as executives at the unit, ward, and local government levels, describing their emergence as a turning point for the party in the state.

While commending the peaceful conduct of the congresses, Muhammad noted that the process also exposed concerns around inclusiveness, coordination, and internal cohesion, which he said must be urgently addressed.

“The task before us is clear and urgent — to unite the ADC from the ward level to the national level. We must close ranks, rebuild trust, and ensure that no member feels excluded. A divided party cannot effectively challenge for power,” he said.

He cautioned that opposition parties often falter not due to lack of support, but because of internal disunity, poor coordination, and avoidable conflicts. He urged the new leadership under Alile to rise above these challenges and provide inclusive direction.

Muhammad added that the ADC is increasingly being viewed as a viable alternative in Nigeria’s political landscape, stressing that party leaders must now convert that potential into electoral victories.

In a similar vein, a party chieftain, Douglas Iyike, appealed to aggrieved members to set aside their differences and support the new leadership for the overall interest of the party.

Iyike urged members to rally behind the party’s National Leader, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, in a collective effort to wrest power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

He commended Odigie-Oyegun for his leadership and resilience, noting that despite challenges, he has continued to steer the party in the right direction.

“It is true that there may be pockets of dissatisfaction over the emergence of Chief Tony Alile, but we must not fight ourselves. Our focus should be on fighting for Nigerians and ensuring that we unseat the ruling party in 2027,” Iyike said.

The statements come amid post-congress reflections within the party, with stakeholders emphasising reconciliation, unity, and strategic coordination as critical to strengthening the ADC ahead of future elections.