The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), has urged the African Democratic Congress (ADC) faction led by David Mark to desist from employing "emotional reasoning and blackmail to bluff their way out of a purely legal conundrum they brought upon themselves."

According to him, members of the faction need to know that the law does not allow for sentiment, emphasising that decisions are based on facts, evidence, and the interpretation of the law, rather than on sympathy, emotion, or political considerations.

The minister said this after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) dismissed the faction led by former President of the Senate, David Mark.

Keyamo said, "All those who are arguing about ‘status quo ante bellum’ are dispensing their time and energy chasing shadows and not the substance. This is because whether INEC recognises either faction for now is irrelevant: what is relevant is that there is a challenge regarding the takeover of the party pending in court by a duly elected Deputy National Chairman. As long as that case remains in court, all the actions of either faction MAY end up being nugatory AFTER the deadline for nominations of candidates by INEC. The implication is that the ADC may end up having NO CANDIDATE for the election."

He suggested that instead of criticizing INEC, the ADC should thank the commission for its prompt action in derecognizing both factions before the candidate nomination window closed.

The minister emphasized that INEC's decision had warned the party about potential risks and provided an opportunity to find a new, safer platform, expedite court proceedings, or resolve the leadership dispute swiftly within the party.

Keyamo described the strategy of blaming imaginary opponents or INEC as purely mischievous, emphasising that "neither APC nor INEC prodded these grown adults and supposedly ‘experienced’ politicians to go and hijack an existing platform without sound legal advice and without properly sorting out every member of the leadership of that existing platform.

"They say they will proceed with their congresses and Convention despite INEC’s decision and the ruling of the Court of Appeal. That is fine by us.

"Never interrupt your opponent when he is making a mistake."