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Tag: African Democratic Congress

  • ADC inaugurates Southwest exco

    ADC inaugurates Southwest exco

    African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the Southwest at the weekend promised to strengthen the party and empower citizens.

    The Zonal Chairman, Rahman Owokoniran, spoke after he was sworn in alongside other zonal executive members of the party at an event at Ibadan Business School, Bodija, Ibadan.

    The ceremony was attended by party leaders from across the zone, including the Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Bamidele Ajadi, Jide Adeniji and state chairmen of the party, among others.

    Other zonal leaders who were sworn in include: Assistant National Secretary (S/W Zonal Secretary) – Bashir Lawal (Oyo State); Deputy National Woman Leader- Mrs Yemisi Afolabi (Ekiti State); Ex-officio- Prof Olabode Ayorinde (Ondo State); Deputy National Financial Secretary – Hon Rotimi George Taylor (Ogun State) and Deputy National Coordinator (Diaspora)- Daniel Akene (Ekiti State).

    Others are: Assistant National Woman Leader (S/W Zonal Woman Leader)- Sidikat Ojo (Ondo State); Assistant National Youth Leader- Oluwaseyi Akinde (Lagos State); Director of Communication, Dr Babatunde Oke (Osun State); Assistant National Organising Secretary -Sakiru Adekoya (Ogun State) and Rasak Iyowawi, former Southwest chairman.

    Owokoniran expressed gratitude to the party members and stakeholders, who supported his emergence as the new zonal chairman, acknowledging the dedication and sacrifices of ADC members, particularly those who have remained steadfast over the years, and those who have recently joined the party.

    READ ALSO: Mutfwang, Plateau APC and 2027 battle

    The newly inaugurated Southwest zonal chairman emphasised the need for the party to deepen grassroots participation and offer Nigerians a credible, democratic voice to fight poverty and maintain dignity.

    The ADC leader highlighted the socio-economic challenges facing the people of Southwest, including poverty, food shortages, unemployment, insecurity and declining living standards.

    He condemned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government’s practices, which he alleged were designed to manipulate and control the poor and the vulnerable.

    Owokoniran promised to work towards building a party that restored hope, dignity and opportunity for Nigerians.

    He pledged to inspire citizens’ participation and offer a people-focused approach to governance in the zone, calling on party members to work together with courage, commitment and determination to achieve the desired outcome.

    Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Bamidele Ajadi, said the inauguration was necessary, as Southwest was the only geopolitical zone without a zonal leadership.

    He urged party members not to allow external forces to destabilise the zone, warning that those uncomfortable with the coalition arrangement should retrace their steps.

    Adeniji, an engineer, described Owokoniran as a listening and God-fearing leader, expressing confidence in his ability to unite and strengthen the party in the zone.

    Oyo State Chairman of ADC, Yinka Olona, enjoined members to rally behind the new zonal chairman, saying collective support was crucial for the party’s success in upcoming elections.

  • ADC alleges coercion of civil servants in APC e-registration drive

    ADC alleges coercion of civil servants in APC e-registration drive

    The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised concerns over reports that civil servants and government workers in several states are being pressured to register for the All Progressives Congress (APC) as part of the ruling party’s ongoing electronic membership registration exercise.

    In a statement on Sunday, the opposition party said it had received what it described as consistent and widespread reports suggesting that public servants were being compelled to register for the APC under threats linked to job security, career progression or access to livelihoods.

    The ADC described the alleged practice as unacceptable and warned that compelling citizens to join a political party amounts to a violation of their constitutional rights.

    According to the party, freedom of thought, conscience and association are guaranteed under the Constitution and cannot be abridged by any government or political organisation.

    The party argued that the APC’s e-registration exercise was increasingly resembling coercion rather than voluntary political participation, noting that genuine party support should not require pressure or intimidation.

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    It also warned that the development could undermine the neutrality and professionalism of the civil service, which it said is expected to remain non-partisan and loyal to the state rather than to any political party.

    The ADC said turning civil servants into what it described as partisan hostages risks eroding public trust in governance and weakening institutional integrity.

    The party further questioned the political value of any membership database compiled through coercion, arguing that inflated figures do not necessarily translate into electoral support.

    “A digital register does not translate to genuine political support. Databases do not vote; citizens do,” the statement said.

    The ADC called on relevant authorities, including the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, labour unions, civil society organisations and the international community, to pay attention to what it described as a potential abuse of power and possible violations of data protection and human rights.

    It urged that public servants be allowed to exercise their political choices freely, without fear of or pressure from outside influences.

  • ADC seeks clarification on U.S–Nigeria health MoU

    ADC seeks clarification on U.S–Nigeria health MoU

    The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the federal government to urgently clarify and publish the full text of the recently signed health cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nigeria and the United States, citing conflicting public explanations issued by both governments.

    The party noted that while Nigerian authorities have described the agreement as a technical and inclusive framework aimed at strengthening health security, expanding primary healthcare, and improving domestic health financing, official statements from the United States have presented the MoU in materially different terms

    According to the party in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, on Sunday, the U.S. description appears to introduce identity-based considerations and discretionary termination powers that were not reflected in the federal government’s public account, raising concerns about transparency, constitutional compliance, and national sovereignty.

    The party warned that Nigeria should not enter into any international agreement that could undermine the country’s constitutional provisions on inclusion and non-discrimination, particularly in the delivery of essential public services such as healthcare.

    The ADC said the divergence in the public framing of the MoU goes beyond a communication gap and called for clarity on which version accurately reflects the terms signed by Nigeria.

    While affirming its support for foreign assistance and bilateral cooperation to strengthen the health sector, the party insisted that such partnerships must respect Nigeria’s diversity and constitutional guarantees of equality.

    ADC further expressed concern over reports that Nigeria is committing more financial resources under the arrangement than its foreign partner, despite indications that key decisions and termination powers may rest outside the country.

  • ‘Atiku, Obi can’t solve Nigeria’s problems’

    ‘Atiku, Obi can’t solve Nigeria’s problems’

    Former African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Dumebi Kachikwu, has criticised leading opposition figures Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, for not offering concrete solutions to Nigeria’s recurring crises beyond social media commentary.

    Speaking on national television, Kachikwu said Nigeria’s opposition politics has been reduced to what he described as “performative outrage,” where prominent politicians react to tragedies with statements and tweets but fail to propose actionable alternatives.

    According to him, whenever the country is hit by major incidents ranging from insecurity and violent crimes to economic hardship, the same political figures emerge to condemn the situation without outlining how they would address it if entrusted with power.

    “In the last two years, every time we’ve had a national tragedy, all you hear from the people you mentioned Atiku, Obi is talk, mostly tweets. ‘It’s a shame,’ ‘It’s a tragedy,’ ‘We are sorry,’” Kachikwu said. “They jab at the government, but they never, ever speak to solutions.”

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    He argued that such responses fall short of the responsibility expected from politicians who aspire to lead a country of over 200 million people, especially given Nigeria’s persistent security and economic challenges.

    Kachikwu stressed that meaningful opposition should go beyond criticism and instead present clear policy options, particularly on issues such as terrorism, kidnappings, violent crime, and governance failures. He questioned why opposition leaders have not articulated detailed plans on tackling insecurity, reforming the economy, or strengthening institutions.

    The former presidential candidate warned that Nigerians must become more critical of political messaging and resist being swayed by rhetoric without substance. He maintained that without concrete proposals, repeated condemnations of government failures amount to political grandstanding rather than leadership.

    Kachikwu’s remarks add to the growing debate over the quality of opposition politics ahead of the 2027 general elections, as political alignments intensify and public scrutiny of both the ruling party and opposition figures deepens.

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  • ADC dismisses governorship candidate selection rumours

    ADC dismisses governorship candidate selection rumours

    African Democratic Congress (ADC) has dismissed social media reports claiming it has nominated a candidate for the 2026 Osun State governorship election.

    It said all aspirants would take part in a primary election, in line with its official timetable, after which the winner would emerge as the party’s standard-bearer.

    The clarification became necessary following social media reports that the party had allegedly named Dr Najeem Salaam as its candidate for the 2026 Osun governorship election.

    Salaam’s alleged emergence followed a closed-door meeting of the party’s national leadership in Lagos, where he was reportedly selected ahead of former Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti.

    The Lagos gathering, according to the social media account, was convened to reconcile factional differences and produce a unified candidate, with sources saying the vote tilted in Salaam’s favour, signalling a possible shift in the party’s internal dynamics.

    However, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, dismissed the report, insisting it should be ignored.

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    Abdullahi, in a post on his X social media account, said: “ADC will like to affirm our earlier statement that videos and social media posts claiming that the party has ‘picked’ a candidate are false and should be disregarded.

    “For the purpose of conducting the primaries to elect the party’s standard-bearer for the 2026 governorship election in Osun, a timetable has been released and widely publicised.

    “Aspirants are urged to adhere strictly to the guidelines.

    “For the avoidance of doubts, ADC remains committed to the highest standard of internal democracy, anchored on a free, fair and transparent electoral process.”

  • Atiku registers in Adamawa as ADC member

    Atiku registers in Adamawa as ADC member

    After months of the “great expectation,” former Vice President Atiku Abubakar officially joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) yesterday.

    The 2023 presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who officially defected from the main opposition in July, picked his ADC membership card at his birth place in Jada, Jada Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

    The Wazirin Adamawa’s grassroots registration of the new opposition platform became public knowledge earlier on Sunday while the message was put up on his X account yesterday, complimented by images of him receiving his ADC membership card and a jersey branded ‘Waziri 01’.

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    While writing his name on the ADC register yesterday, Atiku said the exercise marked a consolidation of his identity with the party.

    The former Vice President said he was fully set to champion moves that will stamp the authority of the ADC as the true opposition force to take power from the reigning All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The Nation reports that Atiku is coming on board as a duly registered member of the ADC against the backdrop of a long-drawn internal crisis within the Adamawa chapter of the party.

  • ADC bigwigs dump ADA, say no automatic ticket for presidential candidate

    ADC bigwigs dump ADA, say no automatic ticket for presidential candidate

    The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has formally abandoned the push for the registration of the African Democratic Alliance (ADA), declaring that its leaders and members will no longer pursue the parallel platform.

    Rising from a high-level caucus meeting, party leaders resolved that all presidential aspirants must submit to the primary process with no automatic ticket guaranteed for any contender. 

    Those present at the meeting were ADC National Chairman, David Mark; former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; former Kaduna Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai; former Sokoto Governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal; and former Rivers Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, among others.

    The decision, according to the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Bolaji Abdullahi, was reached to strengthen internal democracy and avoid divisions ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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    He said all aspirants in attendance agreed to support whoever emerges from the primaries, adding that the caucus also restated its earlier directive for members to resign from other political parties, although no specific timeline was set for compliance.

    The National Working Committee (NWC) was mandated to announce dates for the party’s primaries in Osun and Ekiti States to produce candidates for the forthcoming off-cycle governorship elections, Abdullahi added.

    He also revealed that Labour Party’s (LP) National Leader, Peter Obi, was absent but reportedly sent apologies, pledging commitment to ongoing consultations and cooperation with the coalition.

  • Anambra ADC’s Senatorial candidate, two lawmakers join APC

    Anambra ADC’s Senatorial candidate, two lawmakers join APC

    •Over 20 governors lead APC campaign in Anambra

    The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Senatorial candidate during the August 16 bye-election in Anambra State, Chief Don Amamgbo, has dumped his party to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

    He was not alone; he joined the APC with two House of Assembly members, and they were at the APC stakeholders’ meeting on Friday.

    Though the names of the lawmakers are being kept secret at least, for now, The Nation gathered Saturday that 10 other members of the state assembly are warming up to join APC in the days to come

    Amamgbo declared his support for the APC on Friday during the party’s stakeholders’ meeting, held at the Radisson Hotels in Awka.

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    He used the occasion to declare his support for the governorship candidate of the APC, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, and his running mate, Senator Uche Ekwunife.

    The meeting deliberated on how to defeat the incumbent governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, during the November 8 governorship election.

    Meanwhile, the APC at the national level has assembled no fewer than 20 governors to lead the governorship campaign of Ukachukwu and Ekwunife in Anambra.

    The campaign council has Governor Basset Otu as chairman, while Governor Hope Uzodimma and two others will serve as co-chairmen

    Also, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, will lead an avalanche of other senators for the task in Anambra State to battle the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) campaign council, made up of 489 members.

  • ADC: Coalition of political braggadocios

    ADC: Coalition of political braggadocios

    Sir: With just two years into the tenure of the current administration, the recent macabre dance by the coalition of estranged politicians under the aegis of African Democratic Congress, ADC, smacks of a mere diversion and attempts to unduly heat the polity.

    Reminiscence of the beautiful damsel, who danced herself to lame before the real dance begins, the political hawkers and nemesis of Nigeria’s political space, will soon get tired, and like the spent forces that they are, fizzle out of sight. Albeit, like the mythical phoenix that burns itself and rises young over its ashes, Nigerians must rise in total condemnation of the political harlotry that is taking Nigeria’s political liberty for licence.

    A cursory outlook of the political pedigrees of these ADC dramatis personae and their unconscionable early political bravado has revealed two inter twined raison de’tre for their hawkish mannerism. As former political colleagues of President Bola Tinubu, they seem humbled by his unparalleled achievements in just two years in office, which seem to have dwarfed every other government since 1999. As political braggadocios, they seem to have been hit below the belt and their reactions show them as drowning men.

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    Being political iconoclasts, they are unbridled in their collective hatred to make the polity ungovernable and disparage the will and vision of the president to offer his best for the nation. Their idea of throwing themselves in to the early political ring is to become the nemesis and the stormy petrel of an already stable democracy.

    These ADC men of different stripes, impertinence, cobbled together by political impertinence have neither the vision, wisdom and political sagacity to command large following like the type that propelled APC to power in 2015. Bereft of any well-known ideological leanings, clarity and credible blueprint or manifesto, to jolt the Nigerian political space into an unimaginable circus, these power mongers, power retirees, seeking political relevance after their fall from the famed mount Olympus, will no doubt meet their comeuppance and waterloo at the poll come 2027.

    Such gathering of fake and expired politicians of yore should not be taken by a pinch of salt by the ruling APC let alone disturb the president’s sleep. Nigerians know where the shoe pinches them and mending it is beyond the rabble rousers in the so-called ADC circus.

    •Sunday Olagunju,Ibadan, Oyo State

  • Akala, Makinde, others form alliance against Adelabu

    Leading opposition parties in Oyo State including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Action Democratic Party (ADP) on Thursday advanced their talks for an alliance against the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the March 9 governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    They suspended the talks shortly before the presidential election but resumed on Thursday.

    Thursday’s meeting held at the Bodija, Ibadan home of a former governor of the state, Sen. Rashidi Ladoja.

    The Nation learnt that they had a much more detailed discussion on factors such as general popularity of each party and candidates.

    They also reportedly discussed which party or candidate will be most acceptable to the people of the state.

    Also discussed was sharing of portfolios and withdrawal of which House of Assembly candidate in which local government.

    Though they considered the performance of the parties in the presidential and National Assembly elections, it was viewed that it would not be a major factor in deciding which party to jointly support for the next election because of local strength of many parties.

    At the meeting were Ladoja of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Adebayo Alao-Akala, who is the governorship candidate of the ADP, ADC governorship candidate Sen. Olufemi Lanlehin and his PDP counterpart Seyi Makinde.

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    Others are ZLP governorship candidate Sharafadeen Alli and his counterpart from the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Bolaji Ayorinde.

    After meeting for hours, the gladiators agreed to continue with the meeting on Friday.

    The opposition parties are seeking a joint effort to defeat the governorship candidate of the APC, Adebayo Adelabu and its House of Assembly candidates.

    They came to the conclusion that only a coalition can defeat the ruling party on March 9.

    They drew their conclusion from the result of the 2011 and 2015 governorship elections.