As Nigeria Mark 2025 Democracy day, the Action Democratic Party (ADP) has call on Nigerian Youths and Women to see the party as the most credible platform for the Youths to realize their dreams and Women to have full participation and representation in decision making as another electoral circle draws near. The party also call for the full audit of the 2023 election and ask the National Assembly to embark on electoral reforms that will guarantee free, fair and transparent election going forward.
National Chairman of ADP, Engr. Yabagi Yusuf Sani stated this yesterday in Abuja during the Party world press conference in Commemoration of the 2025 democracy day celebration in Nigeria.
” On this historic day 12th of June, we gather not only to commemorate a watershed moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey but to interrogate the state of that democracy today. June 12 is more than a public holiday; it is a living symbol of our collective resistance to tyranny, our yearning for justice, and our relentless pursuit of people driven governance.We honour Chief MKO Abiola and countless others whose sacrifices laid the groundwork for this democratic era. But we must now ask, with urgency and honesty: is Nigeria upholding the spirit of June 12 or desecrating it?
” It Will be recalled with nostalgia how following the annulment of the June 12 elections, politicians from various background including our present Tinubu President, Bola Ahmed united to campaign vigorously for the restoration of democracy. This collective effort ultimately forced the military to hand over power to civilians in May 1999. Unbroken Years of Civilian Rule To the glory of God , we have enjoyed 26 years of unbroken civilian rule since the return to democracy in 1999, the ADP like other concerned democrat this is a full however s cannot claim that f ledged democracy. The manner in which government is run and elections are conducted leaves much to be desired. It often feels as though we are under a benevolent military regime, where democratic tenets are not respected, the rule of law is trampled upon, and justice is sold to the highest bidder. We must ask ourselves: Have these years of unbroken civilian rule strengthened our democracy? Or have we devolved into a government of the few, for the few, and by the few? Silence on this matter cannot be considered golden.
” Again Today, we face a creeping danger that mirrors the very conditions that led to the June 12 crisis: the unhealthy and undemocratic capture of state machinery by a ruling political class. The All Progressives Congress (APC), rather than functioning as a ruling party within a democratic framework, increasingly appears to be engineering a political monopoly, stifling opposition, silencing dissent, and consolidating power at a ll costs. Opposition parties like ours are being trampled, manipulated, or marginalized through state not in fair contest, but sponsored subterfuge. We see a silent but deliberate muzzling of multiparty democracy, and with it, a dangerous drift toward de facto on democracy — it is domination party rule. This is not by one ethnic in civilian garb. group dressed It is this toxic political environment, where choices are eroded and voices are coerced, that pushes some frustrated Nigerians to flirt with dangerous alternatives, including calls for military intervention. We strongly reject such thinking — but we must understand its roots. When citizens are robbed of democratic alternatives, the temptation to seek non democratic “rescue” grows.
We cannot afford to return to the darkness of June 12. Not now. Not ever. Responsibility Must Beget Accountability The theme of today’s reflection is a moral imperative. Democracy without responsibility becomes reckless; governance without accountability becomes criminal. The 2023 general elections, which promised a new dawn through technologies like BVAS and IReV, collapsed under the weight of manipulation, incompetence, and impunity. Over ₦355 billion was spent, yet we saw:Only 31% of polling unit results uploaded in real (Yiaga Africa, 2023).Voter turnout of 26.7%, the lowest since 1999.Widespread electoral violence and vote– time buying, often in areas where rising alternatives like the ADP were gaining momentum. This isn’t democratic progress — it is democratic sabotage. The opposition is meant to serve as a “shadow government” and the conscience of the people, reminding the ruling party of its failures and articulating public interest issues. Unfortunately, under the current APC government, the opposition is viewed as an enemy simply due to political ..
difference This tendency is also evident at the state level, where ruling parties often suppress opposition. The opposition must unite on common interests without being perceived as compromised or intimidated. The recent comments by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Chairman of the APC regarding the exodus of opposition party members, suggesting that it is merely a case of individuals “jumping from a sinking ship,” are both shallow and undemocratic. T his response is not only dismissive but also reflects a troubling disregard for the principles of democracy in Nigeria. Two years ago, few would have anticipated that Tinubu, who once positioned himself as a champion of democratic values, would lead efforts that undermine the very foundations of democracy. His administration’s actions, which include state sponsored harassment of opposition members, signal a significant departure from democratic norms and raise concerns about the health of Nigeria ‘s political landscape. This situation is both laughable and unfortunate, as it reveals a stark contrast between the promises of democratic governance and the reality of political repression.
“Nation in Crisis, Not for Lack of Wealth, but for Lack of Will Nigeria is not poor. Nigeria is poorly managed. – 133 million Nigerians suffer from multidimensional poverty (NBS, 2022). – 20 million children are out of school. – Youth unemployment is over 33%. – Yearly budgets run into trillions, yet the people remain in darkness, hunger, and fear. Who is answering for this betrayal? Who is held to account when children drop out of school, when hospitals have no drugs, and when mothers die in childbirth due to failed infrastructure? The Electoral System Is Broken – We Demand Reform Technology without integrity is high-tech rigging. The failure of electronic voting in 2023 demands radical electoral reform. The ADP demands: – An independent audit of INEC’s 2023 operations; – Swift passage of the Electoral Offences Commission Bill; – Legal guarantees for real-time result transmission and public access; – A comprehensive review of the Electoral Act to strengthen checks and transparency.
Youth and Women: You Are Not Spectators Stakeholders — You Are The ADP issues this call to action: this is your moment. To the youth: Nigeria is yours to build — not to inherit in ruins. Step into the arena. Under the ADP, your dreams will not be dismissed by godfathers. To the women of Nigeria: with nearly 50% of the population, it is a grave injustice that women still hold less than 5% of political offices. That must end. The ADP is committed to 35% inclusion of women and youth at all levels. The ADP: The Credible Alternative to a Captured State As the ruling party tightens its grip, Nigeria gasps for fresh democratic air. The ADP is that breath of renewal. We are building a movement — not just a party — founded on justice, equity, competence, and character. We do not buy votes. We inspire minds. We do not traffic in false promises. We stand for principled change. We invite every Nigerian to join us. disillusioned but not defeated
June 12 reminds us that democracy is neither cheap nor guaranteed. It must be protected not with passivity, but with passion. Not with despair, but with determination. To the APC and all in power: state capture is not victory — it is betrayal. The Nigerian people will resist it. We say never again to the silencing of opposition. Never again to the recycling of impunity. Never again to the return of dictatorship by other me ans. Let the lesson of June 12 be clear: when responsibility fails, accountability must rise. If we forget that, we dishonour the heroes who gave everything for the democracy we now take for granted. Let every citizen rise up for freedom, for justice, for Nigeria.
