A suspended member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Olaide Ibraheem, has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the party’s national leadership, warning that failure to reinstate him would compel him to seek legal redress.
Ibraheem, who spoke to journalists on Tuesday in Akure, maintained that he remains the legitimate Chairman of the ADC in Ondo State, insisting that his suspension was unlawful and unconstitutional.
Naijaonpoint reports that the embattled party chieftain expressed displeasure over what he described as the embarrassment and reputational damage caused by his suspension, which he alleged was carried out by the party’s former National Chairman, Raphael Nwosu.
According to Ibraheem, he emerged as state chairman through a duly conducted state congress held on October 7, 2020, which he said was monitored by security agencies and had no opposing candidates.
“I assumed office through a legitimate congress with security agencies in attendance and without any opposition within the party,” he said.
He added that since his emergence, no further state congress has been held in Ondo State, insisting that his tenure remains valid.
Ibraheem said he had personally sustained the party’s operations in the state, citing the absence of political office holders and external financial support.
“I occupied the office meritoriously and conducted the party’s affairs strictly in line with the party’s constitution,” he stated.
“I single-handedly financed the party because there were no office holders or subventions coming to the party.”
The ADC chieftain alleged that he was removed from office on November 28, 2024, in what he described as an unceremonious and embarrassing manner, contrary to the party’s constitution.
He argued that Article 2 of the ADC constitution underscores the supremacy of the party over individual authority, stressing that the National Chairman lacks the constitutional powers to remove a state chairman.
Ibraheem said he initially refrained from public confrontation in the hope that respected elders within the party would intervene and resolve the matter amicably.
“I delayed taking action, believing that elders of the party would persuade the national leadership to correct this terrible mistake,” he said.
“However, it is clear that nothing has been done. That is the reason for this peaceful address.”
He, therefore, issued a 14-day ultimatum, beginning from Tuesday, demanding the reinstatement of himself, his state executive members, and the local government executives of the party in Ondo State, who were removed in November 2024.
“If corrective action is not taken, we shall take further steps. They will hear from my lawyer,” he warned.