Suspends South-South vice chairman over ‘constitutional breach’
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has cautioned the Federal Government against using the recent news of an alleged coup plot as a pretext to clamp down on opposition leaders and begin extra-judicial surveillance on voices that do not agree with the government.
Meanwhile, it has suspended its National Vice Chairman (South-South), Dr Usani Uguru Usani, for alleged violation of the party’s constitution and actions considered detrimental to its unity and progress.
In a statement, yesterday, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said it viewed any threat to Nigeria’s democratic order with utmost seriousness, but warned the Federal Government not o exploit this moment to instil fear, silence dissenting voices or engineer political advantage under the guise of national security.
“The ADC has been closely monitoring the reports of an alleged coup plot involving arrested military officers, and subsequent media claims that a former southern governor is under investigation for allegedly funding the suspects. While we vehemently oppose any effort to undermine Nigeria’s constitutional order, we are equally concerned about the potential misuse of such allegations to justify political witch-hunts, suppress dissent or manipulate public sentiment.
“We are particularly concerned about the conflicting signals coming from government sources, especially as the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has publicly denied ever mentioning a coup plot, despite widespread media reports to the contrary.
Such inconsistency raises serious fears that the coup narrative may have been politically-engineered.”
The ADC expressed particular concern that the Federal Government had not deemed it fit to make a categorical statement on “this very serious matter”, especially after the military authorities had repeatedly denied that there was such a threat to the government.
“By keeping quiet, the government has deliberately allowed the coup story to fester for whatever reason.
What is clear, however, is that the government is exploiting the coup story to divert attention from the real issues of misgovernance in the country and to curry sympathy. Even more significantly, subsequent unattributed media reports purportedly implicating unnamed politicians in the so-called plot now provide a pretext for the government to clamp down on opposition figures or mount undue surveillance on them.
“We understand that the APC government is desperate. But such desperation must never be allowed to endanger our democracy or undermine the democratic rights of citizens,” it stated.
The decision to suspend Usani followed a meeting of the State Working Committee (SWC) of the ADC, Cross River State chapter, on October 15, 2025.
The State Publicity Secretary, James Otudor, in a statement in Abuja, yesterday, said Usani’s recent conduct contravened provisions of the ADC constitution.
The party explained that the decision followed deliberations on petitions and reports accusing Usani of anti-party activities, insubordination and acts capable of undermining the image and cohesion of the party.
ADC said the suspension would remain in effect pending the outcome of an investigation by relevant party organs.
The party also faulted the appointment of Ms Jackie Wayas as Deputy National Publicity Secretary, describing it as lacking consultation with the Cross River leadership. It alleged that Ms Wayas had not engaged with the state chapter since assuming office and urged the National Leadership to review her appointment.
