Our Pan-African ideology not accidental, says ADC

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) said its Pan-Africanism ideology is not accidental but is rooted in the vision of the party’s founding fathers on African transformation.

Spokesperson of the National Chairman, Nkem Ukandu in a statement, explained that ADC has long viewed the Nigerian politics as  proxy for African transformation.

According to Ukandu: “The party’s Pan-African stance aligns with the belief that domestic reform is a prerequisite to international credibility.

“From foreign policy to youth employment, the ADC message is consistent: Nigeria cannot remain reactive. It must take charge of the wheel,” he said.

Ukandu noted that the ADC politics has been the people-first politics and grassroots credibility.

He remarked that the ADC mission has always been: “for Nigeria, Africa, and the world,” noting that the National Chairman Dr. Ralphs Okey Nwosu had maintained that the ADC was “constructed to put Nigeria in the driving seat for development and transformation.”

Ukandu who is also Deputy National Secretary, praised the party’s National Chairman and said he is not just a figurehead, “he is the ideological spine of the movement.

Continuing, Ukandu  said,  “His (National Chairman’s) commitment for over nearly 20 years has given the party not just longevity, but direction. In fact, his credibility might be ADC’s most valuable political capital.

“It is rare in Nigerian politics to find a party leader who has neither jumped ship nor compromised core values for quick wins.”

The Deputy National Secretary said despite his commitment, Nwosu proves that he is not above the party, as he has repeatedly hinted at stepping aside soon to give room for a new generation of leadership.

Ukandu stated that the ADC’s logo, which is a handshake, is more than a metaphor, adding, “It is baked into ADC’s structure. Unlike most Nigerian parties, ADC avoids the familiar fault lines of geography and tribalism.

“This is not a logo developed in just any boardroom or by random people. It was chosen deliberately and intentionally, meant to stand in direct contrast to the hard line of conflict-driven politics that has defined past elections”, he said.

He recalled that the ADC National Chairman, Nwosu had explained that the logo represents “national unity and warmth,” and, most importantly, a promise to the electorate that governance can be inclusive and dignified.

According to him, ADC is not the largest party or the richest party, adding, “But it is quickly becoming the most talked-about political project in the country, not because of who joins it, but because of what it represents.

“ADC may not have all the answers. But it is asking the right questions: about productivity, unity, leadership, inclusivity, and Africa’s future”, he stated.