- Safiu Kehinde
The factional National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark, and Nation Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, have been ratified alongside other members of the faction’s National Working Committee (NWC) to lead steer the party affairs for the next four years.
The decision was reached during the party’s 8th national convention held on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to reports, delegates from the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) voted overwhelmingly to affirm the newly constituted leadership.
The convention also approved key amendments to the party’s constitution through voting.
In his remarks, Mark commended the planning committee’s chairman, describing the convention as organised and superior to previous conventions he had attended in the course of his political career.
He described the convention as the beginning of ADC’s march toward national leadership, urging members to remain committed to the growth and development of the party.
Prior to the ratification, the factional ADC leader, in his welcome address at the convention, said that the party will not bow to intimidation amid mounting political pressure.
“We have made it clear that in an ever-shrinking democratic space, the ADC will not bow, will not be cowed, and we will not retreat,” Mark said.
According to him, strong political movements are built not in comfort but in difficult times when citizens demand change, leadership, integrity and unwavering commitment to national progress.
“We will not surrender because what is at stake is not just the opposition, but the very survival of democracy in Nigeria,” he added.
Mark said that attempts to weaken the party had rather strengthened its internal unity, expanded its coalition and reinforced the importance of a strong opposition in sustaining democracy.
According to him, a new generation of Nigerians is demanding accountability, transparency and leadership that supports their ambitions, positioning ADC as a credible alternative political platform.
Mark noted that the party’s objective goes beyond political power but a duty to demonstrate that democracy could improve lives and deliver meaningful development.
He called on opposition leaders across party lines to unite in rescuing the country, describing the current challenges as a patriotic duty beyond partisan political interests.
The former senate president commended members for successfully conducting congresses nationwide despite challenges, noting that the party was deepening its grassroots presence and democratic participation.
He urged the newly-elected leaders to embrace accountability, inclusiveness and service, emphasising that leadership must reflect unity, coordination and commitment to shared national aspirations.
Mark reiterated that the party’s core principles remained transparency, accountability and participation, adding that no member, regardless of status, would be above the party’s constitution.
He assured Nigerians that ADC would prioritise people-focused governance, protect citizens’ welfare and ensure deployment of national resources to improve the quality of life.