The Chairman-elect of the African Democratic Congress in Delta State, James Oghenero Akporero, has declared that the party is prepared to confront the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and challenge what he described as the “daily punishment” being inflicted on Nigerians under the current administration.

Akporero made the remarks during a press briefing held in Asaba, Delta State

According to him, “The daily punishment for Nigerians is enormous, and this punishment has to be challenged. If it is only ADC that can challenge APC to do things right, it will do just that. So, there is nothing to fear about APC”.

He maintained that Nigerians deserved better governance and that opposition parties must rise to provide an alternative platform capable of rescuing the nation from its current socio-economic challenges.

The Chairman-elect, also at the Press conference, dismissed reports of factional divisions within the Delta chapter of the ADC, insisting that the party in the state remains united despite recent disagreements over congress outcomes.

“There is no faction within the ranks of Delta ADC now. I can say it clearly that there is no faction in ADC,” he said.

According to him, the leadership
of various blocs unanimously backed his Exco as the authentic structure because
his emergence followed “collectively agreed process”

At the press conference attended by Delly Ajufor; Diokpa Christopher Biose; Comrade Preye Perenene, Assistant Publicity Secretary; Comrade Okpara Okwusi John; Emerure Favour; James Akponero (chairman elect) and Lady Ejidoh Chinwe, he explained that the misunderstanding arose after the party congress, when two separate lists of executives were reportedly submitted to the national leadership of the party in Abuja.

He said that his group conducted congresses across the wards in the state and submitted its list, while the rival Exco led by George Timinimi, allegedly compiled names without following due process, and reportedly submitted list to the party’s national secretariat in Abuja for scrutiny.

“What happened is that after the party congress, we submitted our list to the national office in Abuja, and some overzealous persons who still want the old process of getting positions also submitted their list to the national,” he said.

Akporero noted that the national leadership had intervened by setting up a committee to examine the claims of both sides.

He insisted that the authentic executive list was the one produced by what he described as the four blocs within the party, containing the names of 12 “wise men” and two others who supervised the congress and submitted the outcome to the national secretariat.