Barrister Niyi Aborisade, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Oyo State, has called for an urgent political resolution to the lingering internal crisis rocking the party. Aborisade, also known as BANA, is a human rights activist who urged stakeholders to embrace dialogue and reconciliation in the overall interest of the ADC.
Call for Dialogue and Reconciliation
The British-trained lawyer made the call in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. He stressed that recent judicial pronouncements on the party’s internal leadership tussle should not be seen as grounds for prolonged division but as an opportunity for genuine reconciliation and institutional realignment.
Aborisade noted that while the April 29, 2026 judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, affirmed the constitutional powers of ADC state chairmen to conduct congresses in their respective states, the subsequent Supreme Court ruling of April 30 restoring aspects of the national leadership under Senator David Mark equally underscored the need for both parties to work together.
Legal Clarifications and Need for Unity
According to him, the judgments have clarified the legal position but have also made it imperative for the party to urgently harmonize the relationship between the national leadership and state executives. He warned that internal wrangling could undermine the growing public confidence in the ADC as a credible opposition platform capable of challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Aborisade said: “The matter should be approached with maturity, devoid of ego and emotion. The future of the party and the hope many Nigerians place in the ADC must not be sacrificed on the altar of internal discord.”
Historical Parallels and Proposed Solutions
Recalling the political crisis between Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, Aborisade warned that unresolved internal disputes could have far-reaching consequences. The governorship aspirant urged Senator David Mark and other prominent leaders, including Rauf Aregbesola, to convene an emergency round-table meeting with state chairmen and key stakeholders to chart a path towards unity.
He proposed that such a meeting should focus on reaffirming constitutional roles, fostering trust among party leaders, establishing a unified operational framework, and positioning the party for forthcoming governorship elections in Osun State and Ekiti State.
Out-of-Court Settlement Preferred
Also speaking during a live appearance on Òsèlú Àwarawa, a political affairs programme aired on Dominion FM 106.1, Aborisade explained that his intervention was borne out of genuine concern for the party’s survival. He stated that his preference had always been for the matter to be resolved amicably outside the courtroom. According to him, an out-of-court settlement remains the best path forward for preserving unity and strengthening the ADC ahead of future electoral contests.
Aborisade maintained that with sincerity, inclusiveness, and collective commitment, the ADC could emerge from the crisis stronger and better positioned as a disciplined political alternative in Nigeria.
