PROTOCOLS.
We are here today, holding the 8th African Democratic Congress (ADC) National Convention despite the desperate attempts of the ruling party and anti-democratic forces including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to emasculate our party. Just as no power can stop the sun from rising, so can the ADC not be stopped.
At no other time in our history has the county’s moral compass been so shamelessly bent as it is now. People who deliberately split the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP and the Labour Party, LP, are today, being falsely robed as “political strategists” Since when has criminality become a strategy?
The ADC does not and, will never owe its existence to any individual or group including an electoral body masquerading as a neutral umpire with its leadership raggedly robed in the attire of political partisanship.
The ADC derives its existence from the aspirations and will of the Nigerian people who are tired of the deceit and colossal mismanagement to which this country is being subjugated.
We owe our existence to the Nigerian constitution which declares that freedom of association including, that to form or belong to any political party, is guaranteed and is a fundamental right.
We are here because the ADC is on a rescue mission to prise the country from the strangulating grasp of the ruling party. The APC is a party which has foisted on the country, an electoral law that states forgery and making false claims in electoral documents, is no longer a punishable electoral offence. In other words, the ruling party is decriminalizing criminality.
We proclaim our existence because our country is worth all necessary sacrifices.
We cannot allow kakistocracy in Nigeria. The government’s claim that the recent reduction in the exchange rate, shows its mastery of economics, is false. In truth, the exchange rate which was about N700 to the dollar when this government assumed office in 2023, is now about N1,400. This amounts to a 100 percent devaluation. In an import-dependent economy, this is devastating.
The cost of a litre of fuel was before this administration, between N185-238 depending on the part of the country you were, now it is about N1,400 per litre and still rising. Cost of transportation is now so prohibitive that it has become unrealistic for some workers to go to work.
The administration told Nigerians that if it does not solve the power problem by providing constant power supply, it should not be voted for a second term. Today, power supply is far worse with some parts of the country receiving an average two hours daily and, some being in darkness for a stretch of weeks and months.
Ordinarily, having made such a promise and failed woefully, an honest President should simply step down and not seek reelection. Rather, what we are witnessing is the most desperate attempt by a candidate in Nigerian electoral history to retain power at all cost even if it means bringing down the entire democratic system.
Distinguished Delegates, four years ago, this government promised Nigerians “Renewed Hope” Now, three years into its four-year tenure, it is still promising “Renewed Hope.” When exactly will this hope come to fruition? The answer is simple; it is a scam. If allowed, the regime will continue chanting renewed hope to eternity. We have the duty to stop scammers from retaining power.
As for education, the number of out-of-school children which used to be 18.3 million, has lengthened to some 20 million. Equally, far more children, due to neglect, are being railed-roaded by the government into poverty and criminality. Today, 130 million Nigerians are multi-dimensionally poor.
Ladies and Gentlemen, this has been the worse of times in terms of security in the nation with banditry and terrorism spreading across the country. But also worrying is the marked lack of empathy by the rudderless Presidency. After the 2025 Yelwata massacres in Benue State, the President supposedly on a condolence trip, did not visit the affected community. Rather, he held court in the Benue State Government House and returned to the safety of the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Again in 2026, after the Angwan Rukuba killings in Jos, rather than visit the affected community, the President stayed put at the Jos Airport which is 40 minutes drive from the city and, had the surviving victims and, families brought to him.
Distinguished Delegates, the country is in dire straits and we cannot allow this continued drift into hopelessness. This is why as was pointed out earlier, the ADC is on a rescue mission. On this, there is no time to spare. We call on all conscientious citizens to join us because a fence sitter in moments that require decisiveness is either a traitor or collaborator with those who seek to destroy the country.
Our party, the ADC, has within nine months of its July 2, 2025 unveiling in Abuja, transformed into the main opposition party in the country. It has also become the Minority Party in the National Assembly as well as the hope of the Nigerian people for liberation from the clutches of the ruling party. We have spent the last ten months consolidating our structures across the country and repositioning for the patriotic duty of providing leadership for our country by the grace of God in 2027.
THE BIRTH OF THE NEW ADC.
It is necessary to explain to party members and the generality of the Nigerian people, the process that led to the birth of the new ADC.
On March 27, 2025, the ADC National Executive Committee (NEC) met at the party National Headquarters, Abuja. The meeting among other matters, decided to waive the provisions of Articles 9.3(1)(2)(3) & 9.4(1) on eligibility to hold party positions and contest elections.
The then ADC National Legal Adviser Peter Oyewole Esq. moved the motion for the waiver which was passed.
This meeting was observed by INEC officials. Also, the party sent the report of the NEC meeting to the Chairman of INEC in a letter dated April 3, 2025. This was acknowledged by the office of the INEC Chairman on April 4, 2025.
Then, on May 15, 2025, another NEC meeting was held at the Chelsea Hotel, CBD, Abuja. This meeting decided to:
1. Suspend Article 23(4) of the Party’s constitution which could prevent the assumption of vacant offices by merit.
2. Mandate and empower the National Chairman Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu and the NWC to take all necessary actions, make requisite decisions and engage relevant stakeholders to ensure the successful formation, coordination and execution of the coalition in line with the vision and objectives of the party.
The resolutions were unanimously passed and adopted by the meeting.
In both his opening and closing remarks, Chief Nwosu emphasised the objectives of the Party as a vehicle for deepening and consolidating democracy, advancing Nigeria, uplifting the people and edifying the Black Race.
The report of the meeting was communicated to the Chairman of INEC in a letter dated May 21, 2025. It was acknowledged by INEC on May 30, 2025.
The NWC, following the order of the NEC of May 15, 2025 cited above, met on July 2, 2025 and passed the following resolutions:
1. Constitution of a Caretaker Committee to manage the affairs of the party in light of the coalition process and internal restructuring.
2. Composition and appointment of people to the Caretaker Committee/Interim NWC to include:
* Senator David Mark: Caretaker National Chairman.
* Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola: Caretaker National Secretary.
* Bolaji Abdullahi: Caretaker National Publicity Secretary.
* And other members.
The Caretaker Committee is to manage the affairs of the party for a minimum period of twelve months unless otherwise decided by the National Convention.
On July 29, 2025, the NEC met at Chelsea Hotel, CBD, Abuja and made the following decisions among others:
a. Ratification of the NWC resolutions and constitution of a Caretaker Committee to manage the affairs of the party in light of the coalition process and internal restructuring.
b. Approval of the composition and appointment of people to the Caretaker Committee which included:
* Senator David Mark: Caretaker National Chairman.
* Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola: Caretaker National Secretary.
* Bolaji Abdullahi; Caretaker National Publicity Secretary.
* All other additional members.
The National Chairman; Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu and National Secretary Alhaji Saidu Baba Abdullahi were mandated to immediately notify INEC of the changes in the Party’s leadership.
c. Dissolution of the NWC with immediate effect and its replacement with the Caretaker Committee which has the full responsibility of overseeing the party affairs pending the next Convention.
d. Approval of Various Committees proposed by the outgoing NWC to support the Caretaker Committee during the transition period.
d. Swearing In of the Caretaker Committee:
Following the adoption of the motion and ratification of the Caretaker Committee members by the ADC NEC, members were sworn into their various offices and necessary oaths of office were administered.
The entire process was observed by INEC officials and NEC members without any objection.
The report of this NEC meeting was submitted to INEC by Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu and Alhaji Saidu Baba Abdullahi.
It was on this basis that INEC recognized the new leadership and uploaded the principal officers in its electronic portal.
From the foregoing, the former National Chairman; Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu and the entire NWC were legitimately dissolved by the NEC in accordance with the Constitution of the party.
No member of the former NWC of the party therefore has any right or claim to any office thereafter. Such claim is superfluous, and of no effect whatsoever.
THE LEGAL BASIS OF THIS 8TH ADC NATIONAL CONVENTION
It is our position that the Independent National Electoral Commission, being a creation of the law has a duty to abide by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and all other laws of the federation especially the clear provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
The duty of attending and monitoring Meetings, Congresses and Conventions of political parties is a mandatory one imposed on INEC by the Electoral Act, 2026. This duty as stated in Section 82 (3) of the Electoral Act is mandatory and not discretionary. Section 82(3) of the Electoral Act 2026 states:
“The Commission with or without prior notice to the political party, SHALL attend and observe any convention congress, conference or meeting which is convened by a political party for the purpose of:
a. Electing members of its executive committees or other governing bodies;
b. Electing candidates for an election at any level; and
c. Approving a merger with any registered political party.”
The only duty required of the ADC as a political party is to give a 21-day notice of its congresses or convention to INEC in accordance with Section 81 (1) and (2) of the Electoral Act. The ADC gave INEC the required 21 days notice through a December, 2025 letter which was acknowledged by INEC. As a party, we have discharged the responsibility required of us and at this point, it is the duty of INEC to equally discharge its responsibility of attending and monitoring our convention.
The decision of INEC to refuse to attend and monitor our convention amounts to dereliction of duty bordering on a dangerously partisan outlook aimed at unlawfully delegitimizing the otherwise legitimate actions of our party, the ADC.
The only condition that will warrant a congress or convention of a political party to be invalid is contained in section 82 (6) which states:
‘Failure of a political party to notify the Commission as stated in Sections (1) and (2) shall render the primaries, convention, congress, and conferences invalid.’
Since ADC has already given the required notice as stated in Section 82 (1) and (2), there is no other legitimate ground that INEC can rely on to refuse monitoring our convention, except if INEC, as it has become apparent, is on a voyage to destroy ADC to pave way for APC to coast to victory without any serious challenge. Hiding under the order of the Court of Appeal which did not make any reference to attending and monitoring ADC’s convention amounts to INEC assuming the role of the courts. We wish to remind INEC that ADC remains a registered political party with registered members and structures from the polling unit level up to the national level. ADC has not been proscribed by any law or court order. It therefore has the right to continue undertaking its legitimate functions under the law. We are seriously concerned with the attitude of INEC treating the ADC as a party that has been proscribed and therefore does not exist.
We wish to once again draw INEC’s attention to the fact that the steps they have taken to remove the names of our officers from the INEC portal and subsequent refusal to attend and monitor the ADC convention taking place today purportedly relying on the ruling of the Court of Appeal, is a deliberate conjecture that was neither stated in the Court of Appeal’s ruling nor contemplated by it. This conjecture is made solely to deny ADC the right to undertake its statutory functions and delegitimize its actions in order to pave way for the APC to go into the 2007 elections without any credible challenge from the only opposition party that is capable of defeating the APC at the next polls in 2027..
So far, the ADC is the largest and most robust grassroots political party in opposition, populated by major political gladiators who are poised to defeat the APC in the next round of elections. It is obvious that the APC is jittery in spite of boasting of having about 31 governors in their party. INEC has become a willing accomplice of the APC government and has embarked on a diabolical hatchet job of ensuring that APC is the only party on the ballot paper come 2027 elections. Our party will use all legitimate means to resist it.
We hereby call on the international community to take special interest in the evolving anti-democratic actions of the APC and more particularly, INEC’s abandonment of its role as an unbiased umpire. Nigeria has gone through similar anti-democratic plots from some governments in the past and they stood up to them and, those plots collapsed like a pack of cards. This attempt too as initiated by APC and fueled by INEC will collapse like a pack of cards and Nigerians will take back their country.
NATIONAL SECRETARIAT
The ADC on November 17, 2025, opened its new headquarters at 121, Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory. It has since become a beehive of activities from which the party’s rescue mission is being coordinated.
CONSTUTION REVIEW
The Constitution of the ADC has been reviewed with buy-in not only from the members of the party, but also from the general public whose mandate ADC seeks in various elections. In this, we aim to advance some of our core values including being inclusive, receptive and representative. The review also aims at strengthening internal democracy, enhancing accountability and empowering youths, women, the physically challenged and the elderly. The reviewed constitution is hereby presented to this National Convention for ratification, approval and adoption.
MEMBERSHIP MOBILIZATION, REVALIDATION AND REGISTRATION
The party has been engaged in a massive Membership Mobilization, Revalidation and Registration drive. Launched formally on February 12, 2026, it is a hybrid programme combining physical and electronic registration with the proviso that all those registering or revalidating their membership must register their names in the Ward Registers provided by the party.
ADC POLICY AND MANIFESTO
The party has finalized its Policy and Manifesto which are designed to represent the aspirations of the various segments of the populace and ensure service delivery to the Nigerian people. The Policy and Manifesto Committee submitted its Report to the party on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
This has been presented to the NWC and NEC which have approved it, and it is hereby presented to the National Convention for ratification.
ELECTIONS AND PRIMARIES
Our party participated in the November 2025 Anambra State Gubernatorial Elections and the February, 2026 Federal Capital Territory Local Government elections. We were not victorious for various reasons including the fact that our opponents employed the power of incumbency, monetization of the electoral process and misuse of state power. On our side, we suffered from poor funding and the general non-readiness of our emerging structures. However, we have learnt from these lessons and are ready for the Ekiti State and Osun State Gubernatorial Elections.
MULTIPARTY SUMMIT
Our party has had talks with various political parties in the country that share its vision of a new country built on the welfare and security of the citizenry and, social justice for all. These include the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) the Social Democratic Party (SDP) the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP)
A follow up Joint Press Conference of Opposition Political Parties was held in Abuja on February 26, 2026. The theme was “The State of the Nation.”
A Multiparty Summit is planned for a broader engagement of opposition political parties on “The imperative of a united opposition front for 2027.”
PERSECUTION OF OPPOSITION
It is very sad and disheartening that the ruling Patty and its administration has resorted to cheap blackmail and discriminatory persecution of opposition politicians and personalities.
State agencies such as the EFCC, ICPC, DSS, NPF, etc, have been weaponised against the opposition and their members.
Mallam Nasir El Rufai and Mr. Jimi Lawal are in ICPC detention on bailable offenses. Senator Waziri Aminu Tambuwal and Abubakar Malami SAN are being harassed with charges and assets forfeitures. Scores of other prominent politicians are being scared with incriminating threats, charges and crimes for either fraternizing with the opposition or planning to join the opposition. The list is endless.
It has become a crime in Nigeria to be in the opposition or contemplate joining the opposition.
Whereas these people claim to be protégés of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, a foremost principled opposition leader in Nigeria. It is doubtful if this claim can be justified in light of their acts in government. It is important to remind them of the philosophy of Chief Obafemi Awolowo:
Awolowo defined opposition as an ideological “institutional conscience of the republic”. A democracy without opposition is an autocracy. Vibrant principled and determined opposition is the heart and soul of DEMOCRACY.
Nigeria must be a virile multi party democracy and remain a REPUBLIC.
We say boldly and clearly “NO TO CORONATION.”
CONGRESSES AND NATIONAL CONVENTION
The ADC Polling Unit, Ward and Local Government Congresses were held on Thursday, April 9, 2026. The State Congresses held on Saturday, April 11, 2026. The National Convention is holding today, Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
All these dates, time lines and reports were in accordance with the party constitution, ratified at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on March 25, 2026 in Abuja’
Distinguished Delegates, it is those who dare to stand up for principles that win. We dare to stand up. So, victory will be ours and that of the Nigerian people. By the grace of God.
The theme of this Convention as declared by the Chairman of the Convention Planning Committee is “ So that Nigeria will work for FREEDOM, SECURITY AND PROSPERITY.”Let us strive to make our Party realize this vision for our people and the black race.
I Welcome you all.
*An address delivered by the National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Rauf Aregbesola, at the just concluded national convention of the party held in Abuja.