By Joush Okama AH 11 January 2026
In every political organization, there comes a defining moment when integrity is tested, not by external opponents, but by internal opportunists who mistake desperation for strategy and impunity for courage. The recent attempt by certain desperado individuals, working round the clock to hijack the African Democratic Congress (ADC) structure in Delta State, offers a textbook illustration of this absurdity: men without integrity attempting to manufacture authority where none exists.
The now-public Rejection of Nomination letter issued by the ADC Delta State Chairman exposes, in clear and unemotional terms, the depth of procedural recklessness and moral bankruptcy behind yet another failed plot to mislead unsuspecting party members and the general public. Far from being routine correspondence, the letter now firmly in the public domain stands as a damning indictment of a growing culture of political fraud masquerading as activism, now being imported into the Delta State ADC. Growth must not dilute identity, and the ADC must resist becoming just another platform for power seekers.
In any serious political organization, authority flows from verified membership, recognized structures, and lawful delegation. What unfolded in this instance was a brazen attempt to invert that order, as unverified and unrecognized individuals sought to impose themselves on a functioning and duly constituted party structure relying, remarkably, on a mere text message sent just hours before an important state event.
The rejection letter makes three points unmistakably clear. First, there is no verifiable ADC membership linking Prof. Arunaye, the convener of the so-called committee in Delta State, to any Ward or Local Government Area structure in the state as of the time of his alleged invitation. Second, no authorization whatsoever was issued by the ADC Delta State Executive Committee nominating Prof. Arunaye or approving the creation or inauguration of any MRMR Committee for Delta State ADC. Third, a fictitious secretariat address, unknown to the party, was deployed in an attempt to cloak an otherwise hollow exercise with false legitimacy. These are not minor oversights; they are fatal defects. They reveal not just procedural ignorance, but a deliberate attempt to deceive party members and the wider public.
Men without integrity always seek shortcuts. They do not build; they hijack. They do not persuade; they impose. Having failed to earn legitimacy through participation, loyalty, and service, they resort to parallel structures, imaginary mandates, and media theatrics. This pattern is not new in Nigerian politics. Whenever a political party begins to gain national relevance as the ADC increasingly has political scavengers inevitably emerge. Some are sponsored by rival interests; others are driven by personal ambition and wounded ego. What unites them is a shared contempt for due process and a dangerous belief that politics is fraud by other means.
The truth remains that Delta State ADC is not factionalized, despite sustained efforts by a few to create that impression.
One of the most instructive aspects of the ADC’s letter is its restraint. There are no insults and no threats only facts, rules, and clearly stated conditions. This is how serious political parties defend internal democracy: by insisting on process, documentation, and accountability. The request for proof of membership, identification of Ward and Local Government Area, and endorsement through proper party channels is not punitive; it is the bare minimum requirement for credibility. Anyone unwilling or unable to meet these standards effectively disqualifies himself.
This episode should serve as a clear warning to political parties and pretenders not just in Delta State, but across Nigeria. The ADC is not an orphan party. It has leadership, records, rules, and institutional memory. It knows the difference between genuine reformers and political counterfeiters.
Integrity remains the currency of sustainable politics. Without it, ambition descends into farce and leadership becomes mere impersonation. The real absurdity of men without integrity lies in their belief that deception can replace legitimacy and that noise can override structure. History and the ADC’s internal resilience shows otherwise.
Delta State ADC has spoken with clarity and firmness: there will be no hijack, no shortcuts, and no recognition without due process. In that resolve lies the true foundation of democratic politics.
Joush Okama is a political analyst following political developments in Nigeria and writes fron Delta State.
