𝗔𝗗𝗖 𝗜𝗻𝗮𝘂𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲, 𝗧𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝗢𝗴𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮 𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has inaugurated a 12-member National Reconciliation and Peace Committee, chaired by former Senator Tunde Ogbeha, with a mandate to reconcile aggrieved members, rebuild trust and strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party’s National Chairman, while inaugurating the committee, said the initiative was aimed at healing wounds arising from the recently concluded party primaries and ensuring that all members remained valued stakeholders in the ADC.

He said although the primaries produced winners, they also generated disappointments and grievances which must be addressed through dialogue and reconciliation.

According to him, “An election may determine who carries the flag, but it must never determine who belongs to the Party.”

He stressed that unsuccessful aspirants and their supporters remained important assets to the party, urging successful candidates to see their victories as a responsibility rather than an opportunity to exclude, humiliate or marginalise fellow contestants.

“Our real challenge is not the ADC member who contested against you. Our real challenge is to build a united political platform capable of winning the confidence of Nigerians in 2027,” he said.

The National Chairman explained that the committee was established in line with Article 9.1 of the ADC Constitution, while its reconciliation mandate was also anchored on the party’s commitment to democracy, inclusion, justice, consultation and its “Handshake Philosophy.”

He tasked the committee with engaging aspirants, candidates, party leaders and stakeholders in constructive dialogue to identify grievances, address legitimate concerns and rebuild confidence among members.

The committee is also expected to discourage inflammatory statements, unnecessary litigation and actions capable of deepening divisions, while encouraging members to explore internal dialogue and dispute-resolution mechanisms where possible.

It will further recommend practical measures for integrating unsuccessful aspirants and their supporters into the party’s structures, ensuring that the political structures, relationships, experience and commitment developed during the primaries are not wasted.

The committee will also establish zonal sub-committees for continuous engagement, monitoring and follow-up, as well as recommend other measures necessary to promote harmony, unity, reconciliation and the overall strength of the party.

The National Chairman charged members of the committee to discharge their responsibilities with fairness, neutrality, maturity, sincerity and confidentiality.

He appealed to party leaders, state chairmen, zonal coordinators, candidates, aspirants and elected representatives to support the reconciliation process and become “ambassadors of reconciliation.”

“There must be no internal sabotage. No politics of revenge. No permanent winners and no permanent losers. We are one political family,” he declared.

He said the ADC could not afford to approach the 2027 general elections as a divided house, stressing that the party must coordinate its structures, respect democratic processes and resolve internal differences without destroying the institution it had collectively built.

He further urged aggrieved members to give reconciliation a chance, successful candidates to extend a hand of fellowship to fellow contestants, unsuccessful aspirants to remain committed to the party’s larger vision, and leaders to lead by example.

According to him, the ADC must demonstrate internally the kind of Nigeria it seeks to build externally—a country where differences are managed with maturity, diversity is respected and disputes are resolved peacefully.

He charged the committee to “build bridges, heal wounds, restore confidence and bring our members together,” while urging members to put past disagreements behind them and unite around the opportunities ahead

The National Reconciliation and Peace Committee is chaired by Senator (Dr) Tunde Ogbeha, CON, with Senator (Prof.) Oserheimen Osunbor as Deputy Chairman.

Other members are Dr Ahmad Ajuji, Barrister Musa Elayo, Senator Andrew Uchendu, Dr Bon Unachukwu, Mr Kunle Ige, Hon. Hajia Rabi Sule and Hon. Abubakar Kanike.

A. Peter Oyewale, Esq. is the Secretary, while Isaac Dare Oketade serves as Deputy Secretary.

The committee will also work with six Zonal Legal Advisers, who will liaise with the committee within their respective zones.

The National Chairman formally declared the committee inaugurated, charging its members to use their experience and goodwill to restore unity and position the ADC for the political challenges ahead of the 2027 elections.