July 03, (THEWILL) – Chief Ralph Nwosu is the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). In this interview with AYO ESAN, he speaks on the last presidential primary of the party held in Abeokuta, Ogun State and other issues. Excerpts:
How did the ADC fare during the period of primaries?
The party is in the driver’s seat ahead of 2023. It has been challenging, but we are happy to have driven the vision thus far. By 2023, ADC will be crowned in the villa for the presidency and in most states of the federation. I can assure you.
Your presidential primary was a bit competitive this time around. How did it happen?
It is the attraction that the people have for the ADC. We had 13 presidential aspirants. At a point one person dropped. We negotiated with 12 aspirants. Two were disqualified and many others stepped down during the process. Mr Dumebi Kachikwu emerged as the presidential candidate in a very transparent manner.
How prepared is the ADC for elections in the states?
That is what I have just said. ADC is in the driver’s seat and come 2023, the presidency, our rescuing mission for the presidency will be accomplished. And in most states of the federation you will have ADC governors and ADC parliamentarians both at the national level and at the state level.
Nigerians everywhere are saying that they are tired of these two humongous political parties that have brought our democracy and our country to the lowest level. And you can see it manifesting. One thing that you media people should note is that I have been a crusader with a clear mission that this will happen. Nigerians are saying this is not possible because these two political parties are this and that. But I said people will soon take over, you can see it was happening. Look at, for instance, what has happened with Mr Peter Obi. He stepped out of PDP and what happened? You see PDP is collapsing.
So I think the Nigerian elite should see that the citizens of this country are determined to force things to happen. That is just a glimpse of the determination of the people. The APC and PDP will crumble and they are already crumbling. And when we have seen what people can do and I tell you, ADC will eventually take over. I think a little of the sign has emerged that has manifested, is that it has shown what the people can do. Now the elites will now see that they are lagging behind when they do the analysis. They can see that the people with vested interest cannot fill the space. They can’t fill the space. People are now saying enough is enough. And ADC will deliver, the Rescue Mission by 2023.
Some people have been trying to make this noise about the ADC primary, trying to create some disharmony in the party. We will not allow that. The primary election was free and fair. And the NWC of ADC will not be planning what Nigerians will call magomago. We took the primary election and national convention to a historical centre of the former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s presidential Library auditorium where intelligence security would monitor everything that we are doing. You go to such a place to do anything stupid, even the old man would get up and get everybody arrested and dealt with. So the intelligence reports are there. We are building peace, our determination is to get this nation rescued. Enough is enough.
Labour Party and the New Nigeria Peoples Party are planning an alliance. Is ADC also contemplating going into an alliance with another political party?
We started alliance and collaboration talks a long time ago. As we speak with you, the ADC that you know is not the ADC of the past. We have over 20 political parties that are with us. In ADC we have over 15 former Chairmen of political parties involved in ADC. So the collaboration that has come under ADC is big, but with collaboration and alliance you never put an end to it until the mission is accomplished.
What is your advice to INEC as we prepare for the 2023 general election?
INEC should listen to the cry of people. It should shine its eyes to see that Nigerians are saying enough is enough. Those who work in INEC are also Nigerians and Nigerians are tired of rigging. They want something transparent for everyone to see in the coming general election.
I see a lot of passionate professionals in INEC, despite the fact that some political parties in power used to nominate their members to INEC. That is causing problems, but the reawakening that is coming up in the minds of every Nigerian should make INEC’s eyes open.
What is your advice to Nigerian youths ahead of the 2023 general election?
Before now, more than 50 youth groups had adopted the ADC as their party. That was why when our nomination processes came up, we said all aspiring youths should be given forms for free. We said once their constituency wants them to contest the election, they should be given tickets quickly and most of them got tickets to contest without paying a kobo. So ADC is their party already. They own the party. I see a lot of things happening on social media and everywhere. And I wonder if they are just waking up. We have been on this for a long time creating space where all the youths, women and People with Disability will occupy. You check the record and you would see that we are fielding a lot of young men and women. They are young men and women and they are very strong.
Are you surprised that the APC and the PDP are currently in crises?
They are always in crises. I don’t know if the latest crises have just started. The issues of power and money are keeping them together, but Nigerians are now saying enough is enough. And it will happen. We have been able to get the confidence of the people.
About the Author
AYO ESAN, has been actively reporting and analyzing political events for different newspapers for over 18 years. He has also successfully covered national and state elections in Nigeria since the inception of this democracy in 1999.
