…ratifies new manifesto, constitution

…British, Chinese envoys attend convention

In a defining moment for Nigeria’s growing opposition, the national convention of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Abuja on Tuesday transformed into a high-stakes summit of political heavyweights, signalling a coordinated assault on the status quo ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Under the leadership of former Senate President David Mark, the gathering served as a platform for a scathing indictment of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, while simultaneously purging internal dissent to forge a unified front. It also showed a resolute party that emerged from uncertainty into securing a last-minute venue despite all the hurdles it suffered internally in previous weeks.

Read also: ADC convention expels Nafiu Gombe, others over anti-party activities

Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President, set a sombre tone for the proceedings, lamenting a nation he described as being in a state of advanced decline. Atiku, who has long been a fixture in the struggle for democratic integrity, declared that the ADC represents the last bastion of real change for a populace grappling with systemic failure. “The economy is gone, education is gone, infrastructure is gone, sovereignty is gone. We must rise to change this,” Atiku stated with a sense of urgency. He was uncompromising in his vision for a future administration, warning that the era of impunity was nearing its end. “You cannot get away with corruption and criminality, including banditry and terrorism, under an ADC government,” he added, while fingering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a tool for the subversion of democracy—a move he vowed Nigerians would resist with the same fervour used to topple past military juntas.

Echoing this alarm, Peter Obi, the former presidential candidate, provided a grim statistical roadmap of the nation’s current trajectory. Obi painted a picture of a country deeply fractured and economically besieged, noting that under the current leadership, the poverty rate has surged from 41.6 percent to 53 percent, casting nearly 14 million more Nigerians into desperation. His critique extended to the nation’s fiscal management, where he revealed that the national debt had ballooned from N37 trillion to nearly N200 trillion. “We are heading towards a disaster if we don’t change course,” Obi cautioned. “Today, the country is deeply divided, and our unity is in serious trouble. We must not sacrifice the future of our children. If we fail to act now, we will all bear the consequences.”

The call for strategic pragmatism came from Rotimi Amaechi, the former governor of Rivers State and Minister of Transportation. Drawing on the historical precedent of the 2015 political realignment that shifted the balance of power in Nigeria, Amaechi urged the ADC to replicate that tactical synergy. He stressed the necessity of presenting a “viable candidate” with the gravitas to unseat the incumbent, while warning that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is actively targeting opposition figures to erode public confidence in governance. “We must find a viable candidate the same way we did previously to defeat this government,” Amaechi asserted, calling for unwavering focus amidst rising hunger and economic uncertainty.

Read also: 2027: ADC will defeat Tinubu even with a ‘corpse’ candidate — Galadima

Presiding over this assembly of giants was David Mark, the national chairman of the ADC, who framed the party’s mission as a patriotic duty rather than a mere quest for power. Despite internal disputes and external pressures, Mark remained defiant, asserting that the ADC “cannot be litigated into silence.” He characterised the convention as a symbol of the resilience of opposition forces against what he described as creeping dictatorship and exploitative governance. To surrender, according to Mark, would be to become complicit in the destruction of Nigerian democracy. “We will not surrender, because what is at stake is not just about the ADC or the opposition. It is the very survival of our democracy,” he declared.

The convention also moved decisively to consolidate its internal authority by formally expelling Nafiu Bala Gombe and members of his faction. The party leadership cited “anti-party activities” as the grounds for the expulsion, specifically targeting Gombe’s decision to institute legal challenges against the David Mark-led leadership without exhausting internal dispute resolution mechanisms. This move was framed as a necessary step to preserve party discipline and ensure that the ADC remains a focused vessel for the 2027 challenge.

Similarly, the party members formally adopted and ratified the party’s new manifesto alongside its amended constitution and other key documents.

According to details presented at the gathering, the newly approved manifesto prioritises a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s security architecture, with a clear proposal to classify kidnapping and banditry as acts of terrorism.

The move, party leaders say, is aimed at strengthening legal and operational responses to rising insecurity across the country.

On the economic front, the ADC outlined plans for tax reforms designed to ease the burden on low-income earners.

The manifesto proposes exempting subsistence income from taxation, a measure intended to support vulnerable Nigerians and stimulate grassroots economic activity.

In addition, the party pledged to introduce a Social Protection Act that would provide structured welfare support for disadvantaged groups, reflecting its commitment to inclusive governance.

Beyond the manifesto, delegates at the convention also ratified the party’s amended constitution, which is expected to guide its internal operations and strategic direction ahead of future elections.

The convention further approved the party’s audit report and endorsed the outcomes of recent congresses conducted across the country.

Party officials described the resolutions as a significant step in repositioning the ADC as a credible alternative in Nigeria’s political landscape.

Read also: ADC convention: Aregbesola blasts INEC, announces opposition summit ahead of 2027

Two representatives of the European Union (EU), representatives of the British High Commission in Nigeria and Yu Dunhai, chinese ambassador to Nigeria, attended the event, while officials of the INEC were absent.

The British High Commission was represented by a three-member delegation led by its Secretary (Political), Thomas Samson. A Nigerian staff member of the High Commission, Damilola Oyedele, was also announced as part of the delegation.