*As David Mark takes over as National Chairman
By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
The African Democratic Party (ADC) has narrated how the Federal Government tried to scuttled the party with a bribe of three ministerial slots.
The narration came on a day that former Senate President Senator David Mark was formally inaugurated as the National Chairman at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held Tuesday in Abuja.
Mark expressed the firm optimism that ADC will produce the next president of Nigeria in 2027.
While revealing the plot of the federal government to scuttle the party during his valedictory speech, Chief Ralphs Okey Nwosu, who handed over the leadership of the party to Mark, said he rejected the plot, describing it as a desperate attempt to undermine the unity of the opposition.
According to him, : “we are running party for Nigeria and our democracy, we all agree, we want to do everything that is possible and today, your party has over 100 and something elected persons already, even without an election, about 28 senators and 46 House of Rep members.
“The number of state House of Assembly members we have is difficult to count but they are almost over 50.
“ADC has grown from a small bungalow to a mansion. In every part of this country, our party is expanding at a phenomenal pace.
“We have moved from winning just five seats to over 100 elected officials without a single general election.
“They offered me ministerial slots—one for myself and two for people of my choice—but it was all aimed at killing the coalition.
“When that failed, they resorted to kidnappings and intimidation. Yet, we stood firm for Nigeria”, he said
Dr Nwosu accused the ruling APC of using state funds to destabilize the coalition, including funding lodging for political saboteurs in Abuja’s most expensive hotels.
Continuing , he said, “but we said no. ADC said no. We believe Nigeria needs a viable opposition to protect its democracy from sliding into a one-party fascist state.”
The 99th NEC meeting saw two major motions adopted. One moved by South West Zonal Vice Chairman, Idowu Rasaq, ratified the reinstatement of previously suspended members—except for Ibe Kachikwu.
Another motion, raised by National Organising Secretary Suleiman Ibrahim, called for the immediate dissolution of the existing NWC and the establishment of a caretaker committee led by David Mark.
Equally named in the caretaker leadership structure were; former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi as National Publicity Secretary, and six Deputy National Chairmen from various geopolitical zones.
Nwosu said all party organs to rally around the new leadership, warning that “a single bad person” in the team could sabotage years of progress.
He further stated that the ADC’s recent announcement of David Mark’s chairmanship sparked an explosion in interest, with over 3 million Nigerians reportedly registering as paying members within one week. States have now requested a minimum of 2 million membership cards each, signaling a surge in public support.
“There is no better reward than what Nigerians are giving us now. Our children and grandchildren can sleep well knowing that we stood up when it mattered most,” Nwosu said.
In his acceptance speech, David Mark declared his leadership would be defined by integrity, transparency, courage, and inclusivity, setting a tone of reform and grassroots empowerment.
“Today marks not just the beginning of a new NEC session, but the dawn of a new chapter in the ADC; a chapter we must write together with unity and conviction,” Mark said.
He praised the outgoing NWC for laying a strong foundation and pledged to consolidate on their achievements by revamping internal party structures, strengthening the rule of law, and ensuring that the party truly belongs to its members.
Mark promised an end to imposition and political elitism.
Hid words’›: “Internal democracy, transparency, and accountability will be our mantra,” he stated, while pledging that 35% of the party’s leadership positions would be reserved for women, and significant space created for youth under 40.
Mark also announced the formation of a 50-member policy committee that will articulate the party’s blueprint across key sectors including health, education, agriculture, security, and the economy.
The goal, he said, is to ensure the ADC is known for “clear ideology, progressive policies, and patriotic governance,” rather than leaving the fate of the party to the discretion of individual candidates.
He said: “We will build a technically competent bureaucracy for the party and ensure a structured financing. All members will truly own the party.
“We will be fair and just to all party members. We promise to be totally transparent. ADC will have zero tolerance for anti-party and other forms of indiscipline.”
The former president of the Senate further promised to revamp the party’s grassroots leadership structures to reflect modern realities, adding, “from the polling units, wards up to the national level, every organ will be re-energised.
“Our policies, nominations, and leadership roles will reflect meaningful inclusion of youths and women and not just tokenism.
He promised the NWC would raise committees to review the manifesto and the constitution of the party to meet and reflect the aspirations of the Nigerian people.
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