The Bayelsa State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has reacted strongly to remarks credited to Elijah Babatunde Ayodele, describing the comments as unfortunate and unwarranted.
In a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Prince Mack-Ake, the party said it was compelled to respond to what it described as an outburst by the cleric against the newly formed political party, noting that silence could be misinterpreted as acceptance of the allegations.
The party said it would ordinarily have ignored the remarks, especially as they came from a religious leader expected to focus on spiritual matters, but decided to clarify its position for the sake of the public.
According to the NDC, it was regrettable that a spiritual leader had chosen to involve himself in partisan political matters rather than concentrate on religious guidance, adding that such interventions appeared politically motivated and misleading.
The party maintained that it had no personal issues with the cleric but would not allow what it called misleading narratives to be promoted against a political movement that has existed for barely three weeks but has already gained significant national attention.
The NDC further stated that the party was founded on the principles of equity, fairness, justice, inclusiveness and the strengthening of democratic institutions in Nigeria. It added that the platform had already begun to inspire hope among many Nigerians, particularly young people seeking a new direction in leadership.
The party stressed that the comments attributed to the cleric did not reflect the aspirations of Nigerians who believe in the NDC as a platform for positive transformation and responsible governance.
It also urged Nigerians to treat the statements with caution, noting that several of the cleric’s past predictions had failed to materialise.
The NDC said its online membership registration portal had already recorded over one million registrations within a short period, which it described as evidence of growing national acceptance of the party.
The party also referenced past controversies involving the cleric, including allegations linked to Adebayo Adelabu, noting that the matter was reported to the Department of State Services and is currently before the court, making it inappropriate to comment further.
It further cited previous predictions attributed to the cleric, including one that Kamala Harris would win the United States presidential election and another suggesting that Ademola Lookman would not perform well for the Nigerian national team—claims the party said were contradicted by subsequent events.
The NDC insisted that such statements would not distract it from its mission, expressing confidence that the party would play a decisive role in providing credible leadership for Nigeria in the 2027 general elections.
The party also reaffirmed its confidence in its national leader, Henry Seriake Dickson, describing him as a statesman who has demonstrated commitment to democratic values and impactful representation in the National Assembly.
It reiterated its commitment to building a stronger, fairer and more democratic Nigeria.
About Author
