Don Norman Obinna has been returned as the State Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Abia State following the party's state congress held in Umuahia on Friday.
Obinna, who retained his position through what he described as an affirmation process, declared that the party is geared up to unseat Governor Alex Otti of the Labour Party in the 2027 governorship election.
The congress was organised by the Abia Congress Committee, chaired by Chioma Cynthia Ladeinde, with Agodi Kanu emerging as secretary. Naomi Nwogu and Gold Mbamaghionyeukwu were elected as State Woman Leader and Deputy Woman Leader respectively.
Speaking to journalists after the exercise, Obinna stated that the congress was conducted in compliance with a Federal High Court judgment delivered on April 29 in Abuja, which interpreted Article 17 of the ADC Constitution regarding the conduct of party congresses.
“So all we did was to go back to our states and execute or implement the court judgments,” Obinna said.
He disclosed that the party notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in advance, adding that INEC officials were present to observe the proceedings.
“The congress began on Thursday with ward and local government congresses, while the state congress was held on Friday,” he explained. “By the grace of God, it was an affirmation that I was returned as the ADC Chairman of the state.”
Obinna emphasised that extensive consultations were held with electoral authorities prior to the congress, including a meeting the previous day, to ensure compliance with the court order.
He clarified that the party approached the court not to challenge national leadership but to seek judicial interpretation of Article 17 of the ADC Constitution on who has the authority to conduct congresses.
“The court, in its wisdom, after reviewing our constitution, gave a judgment that it is the ADC state chairman, the National Working Committee, and the state executive committee that have the right to conduct congresses. And that was what we did today,” Obinna stated.
The ADC chairman maintained that the party has no factions in Abia State and that the congress was carried out in full accordance with both the party’s constitution and the subsisting court judgment.
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