The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has announced the commencement of nationwide membership registration and revalidation of its members, alongside a timetable for party congresses in Gombe State.
The process is part of efforts to strengthen its structure ahead of forthcoming elections.
A chieftain of the party, and former Gubernatorial Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Mr. Muhammad Jibrin Barde, told journalists in Gombe that the move followed more than one year of consultations and mobilisation under the “SabonTafiya” movement.
He described as ”a broad-based political initiative aimed at offering Nigerians an alternative to address insecurity, economic hardship and the decline in social infrastructure.:’
According to Barde, the movement brings together prominent political figures across the country, including a former Vice President, former governors, former ministers and a former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, who are all working towards “the rescue of the nation from its current challenges.”
He explained that “the ADC had now issued official circulars outlining its schedule of activities, beginning with membership registration and the revalidation of existing members, as well as the mobilisation of new entrants into the party.”
Mr. Barde said that congresses would be held from the unit level through wards, local government areas and states by the end of January, while a non-elective national convention is scheduled for February.
“With the release of this timetable, it has become necessary for us to return home and mobilise our members across the state to fully participate in the revalidation exercise and also encourage others to join the party,” he said.
Describing the ADC as a party founded on internal democracy, he said “it was operating a one-man-one-vote system and had rejected imposition, as well as welcomed members as equal stakeholders in a collective movement to salvage the country.”
The ADC Chieftain noted that the mobilisation drive was aimed at consolidating the party’s base ahead of the next general election, stressing that the ADC leadership and members remained committed to the reform agenda they had pursued over the past year.
Responding to questions on the state of the party in Gombe, the party stalwart said the ADC was united in the state and unaware of any factional disputes.
He said the party was offering purposeful leadership, focused on tackling insecurity, reviving infrastructure and restoring key sectors such as healthcare, education and agriculture.
Barde cited the challenges facing traders and farmers, as well as the deteriorating state of public services, including healthcare facilities, as reasons why Nigerians should consider the ADC as a viable alternative to established parties.
According to him, the party is committed to providing equal opportunities for citizens and rebuilding public confidence through accountable and responsive governance.