Former aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode has reacted to the derecognition of David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
INEC removed Mark and Aregbesola from its portal as national chairman and national secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In a post on X on Thursday, Mr Fani-Kayode said the development affected the party’s political plans.
“Given the fact that they have been affected by the decisions of the courts and INEC and they no longer have a party and platform to stand and run on… who are the ones that have been rejected now?” he wrote.
He said the party had faced setbacks in recent times.
“They have been rejected by the courts, rejected by INEC, rejected by their original founders and rejected by the Nigerian people,” he said.
Fani-Kayode said the party should focus on building its structure before future elections.
“May I suggest that they channel all their energy to building up and forming a real opposition party over the next five years and then field a candidate for the 2031 presidential election? Given the circumstances, that is their best bet because 2027 is already lost to them,” he stated.
INEC said its action followed its interpretation of a Court of Appeal ruling on the party’s leadership dispute.
