The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has appointed former Cross River State governor Donald Duke as chairman of its newly created leadership forum.
Mr Duke, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ADC, was named to the position at an enlarged stakeholders’ and executive committee meeting of the party’s Cross River State chapter.
A communiqué issued after the meeting and signed by the state chairman, John Ogar, stated that the leadership forum is the highest non-elective advisory body in the party.
The party said the forum was created to provide strategic guidance and oversight to the ADC leadership across the state. It added that the body would comprise members with leadership experience.
Stakeholders at the meeting endorsed Duke as chairman of the forum, with responsibility for oversight across the three senatorial districts.
Three party members were also appointed to oversee the districts, Ray Morphy for the Northern Senatorial District, Akin Ricketts, former chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority, for the Central District and Effiong Nyong, a former ADC governorship candidate, for the Southern District.
The party resolved to intensify its membership drive, setting a target of registering at least one million voters ahead of the next general elections.
It also said the party constitution would be applied to any member found engaging in activities considered detrimental to the party.
Donald Duke, who governed Cross River State from 1999 to 2007, was the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the 2019 election.
He formally joined the ADC on January 30 after resigning from the PDP.
He received his membership card after registering in Ward 5, Calabar Municipal.
Duke had previously left the PDP for the SDP before returning to the PDP.
The ADC has attracted several politicians ahead of the 2027 general elections, including former vice president Atiku Abubakar, former governors Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi and Rauf Aregbesola.
