Solomon Dalung, a prominent chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, has publicly faulted the party's National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, over the unilateral issuance of appointment letters for state caretaker committees. Speaking through a video broadcast shared on his official Facebook page on Tuesday, Dalung cautioned that the development could severely undermine the party's ongoing legal battle at the Supreme Court and endanger its involvement in the upcoming 2027 general elections.
According to the former minister, documentation authorizing new caretaker leadership across the thirty-six states of the federation began circulating widely across social media platforms earlier that day, bearing the sole signature of the national secretary. Dalung expressed deep dismay that the political platform appeared unperturbed by the avalanche of legal disputes currently confronting it.
What are the legal implications of the appointments?
Dalung pointed out that the newly issued appointments involve individuals who were previously sacked by the Court of Appeal, noting that a formal challenge against those appellate rulings is still awaiting adjudication before the apex court. He contended that proceeding to install the affected persons amounted to a blatant disregard for due process and an attempt to unlawfully pre-empt judicial pronouncements.
"This action of the party is intended to undermine the integrity of the judiciary and pre-empt the decision on the matter before your lordships at the Supreme Court," Dalung stated during the broadcast, emphasizing his professional stance as a legal practitioner committed to upholding the rule of law.
He specifically called for the immediate suspension of the scheduled inauguration ceremony, which was slated for Wednesday, until the highest court delivers its final verdict on the matter. Warning against the potential fallout, Dalung stressed that defying judicial propriety could permanently shut the party out of the 2027 electoral cycle.
Why did Dalung question Aregbesola's authority?
Beyond the timing of the appointments, Dalung raised procedural concerns regarding the legitimacy of the documents. He questioned why the national secretary acted alone in signing the letters, noting that standard administrative protocols within political organizations typically mandate joint endorsement by both the national chairman and the national secretary for documents of such magnitude.
He maintained that he had consistently advised the leadership against taking actions that could inflict self-inflicted injuries on the platform. Concluding his remarks, Dalung urged the party hierarchy to recall the disputed appointment letters immediately and wait for the judiciary to exhaust its review, warning that any negative outcome from the apex court would be a direct consequence of defying legal boundaries.