Whats going on in ADC right now? That is the big question many people are asking. We can tell you that the coalition party is preparing for its Convention. Lately, the party has been busy with e-registration of new members.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has also unveiled the official Timetable for its 2026 nationwide congresses and national convention.
In a recent statement issued by the party, the ADC explained that the exercise is part of its constitutional obligation to renew leadership structures across all levels of the organisation.
According to the party, the process will commence at the grassroots and move progressively through the different layers of the party structure — beginning with polling units and wards, then advancing to the local government and state levels before culminating in the National Convention.
The party noted that the congresses are designed to strengthen its internal democratic processes and reposition the organisation ahead of future political activities.
The schedule approved by the party leadership is as follows:
Polling Unit and Ward Congresses: Tuesday, 7 April 2026
Local Government Area Congresses: Thursday, 9 April 2026
State Congresses: Saturday, 11 April 2026
National Convention: Tuesday, 14 April 2026
The ADC called on its members nationwide to participate actively in the process to ensure a transparent and hitch-free exercise.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is set to hold its national convention on April 20, 2026, where it will most likely announce its presidential candidate and other key leadership positions. The party is currently preparing for this event, with its National Working Committee (NWC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting to finalise arrangements.
As for the governorship primaries, the ADC has already announced candidates for some states, including Ekiti, where it plans to field a candidate for the governorship election. However, specific dates for the primaries haven’t been widely announced yet.
When is the ADC having its primaries?
What is the Candidate selection process like?
We can tell you that African Democratic Congress (ADC) is considering 2 options for selecting its presidential candidate for the 2027 elections: Consensus or primary election. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, has explained that if Consensus isn’t reached, they’ll proceed with a transparent primary election.
To be eligible, Candidates must meet the ADC’s four-pillar standard: Character, Competence, Courage, and Discipline. The party has also launched an online membership registration portal to meet the Electoral Act 2026 requirements.
Notable figures vying for the presidential ticket include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi.
To participate in the congresses, members must register or revalidate their details, and only those on the official membership register will be eligible. The ADC has launched an online membership portal to meet the Electoral Act 2026 requirements.
What effect will the recent court judgment regarding the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leadership dispute have on the party. The Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal filed by Senator David Mark, the current National Chairman of the party, on procedural grounds. The court ruled that the appeal was incompetent and awarded a cost of N2 million against Mark.
The dispute revolves around Mark’s leadership, with some party members, including former Deputy National Chairman Nafiu Bala Gombe, challenging his emergence as National Chairman. The Court of Appeal directed all parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit, which is still pending before the Federal High Court.
The ADC has assured its members that the current leadership, with Mark as National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, remains intact and functional.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said the Court of Appeal ruling in the ongoing leadership dispute within the party effectively leaves its current leadership intact, urging members and the public to disregard misleading interpretations of the judgment.
In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party explained that the appellate court dismissed the appeal on procedural grounds and did not issue any order affecting the positions of Senator David Mark as National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary. The party therefore reassured members that its national leadership remains fully in place.
The full statement reads:
“The attention of members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has been drawn to reports concerning the recent decision of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria in an appeal filed by the National Chairman of the ADC, Senator David Mark, in connection with the ongoing suit instituted against the party leadership at the Federal High Court of Nigeria”.
“Having carefully studied the judgment, we wish to state unequivocally that the Court of Appeal did not determine the substantive dispute regarding the leadership of the ADC. The case challenging the emergence of Senator David Mark as National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary is still pending before the Federal High Court and has not yet been heard or decided on its merits.
Importantly, the Court of Appeal did not grant any relief in favour of the plaintiff, nor did it issue any order affecting the leadership structure of the party. On the contrary, the court ordered that parties should maintain the status quo, meaning that the current state of affairs within the party should remain unchanged pending the determination of the substantive suit”.
“Members of the African Democratic Congress are therefore advised not to panic or be misled by misinterpretations of the judgment. The ruling of the Court of Appeal is purely procedural and does not affect the legitimacy or tenure of the current national leadership of the party. The party remains united and focused despite the antics of anti-democratic forces bent on imposing a one-party rule on Nigeria.
Will this affect the convention?
The recent Court of Appeal ruling dismissing Senator David Mark’s appeal in the ADC leadership dispute won’t affect the party’s convention. The court ruled that the Appeal was incompetent and awarded a cost of N2 million against Mark. The ADC has assured members that the current leadership, with Mark as National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, remains intact and functional.
The party’s National Working Committee convention is scheduled to hold soon, and only registered members will be eligible to participate. The ADC has released guidelines for the congresses and national convention, aiming to strengthen internal democracy and reposition the party ahead of future elections.
Is ADC’s Convention different from Primaries?
The ADC’s convention is like a big meeting where the party will finalize its leadership, discuss key issues, and set the stage for the elections. The primaries, on the other hand, is where the party will choose its candidates for the elections, including the presidential candidate.
Think of it like this: the convention is about the party’s internal business, while the primaries are about selecting who’ll represent the party in the elections.
Convention and primaries are two different processes in the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The convention is like a big meeting where the party finalizes its leadership, discusses key issues, and sets the stage for the elections. The primaries, on the other hand, is where the party chooses its candidates for the elections, including the presidential candidate.
To give you a better idea, the ADC has already released a comprehensive timetable and guidelines for its congresses and national convention for the 2025/2026 political year. The party’s National Working Committee convention is scheduled for February 13-15, 2026.
Implications of Electoral Act 2026 on opposition parties
The Electoral Act 2026 has sparked controversy among opposition parties in Nigeria, with many arguing that it undermines democracy and favors the ruling party. Key concerns include:
– Direct Primaries: The Act mandates direct primaries or consensus for candidate selection, which opposition parties claim will create chaos and disadvantage them. They argue that indirect primaries, which involve delegates, are a more legitimate and democratic option.
– Electronic Transmission of Results: The Act allows manual backup for result transmission in case of network failure, which opposition parties fear could lead to manipulation.
– Membership Register: Parties must submit digital membership registers to INEC 21 days before primaries, which some argue is a barrier to participation.
– Court Jurisdiction: The Act ousts court jurisdiction over internal party affairs, limiting recourse for aggrieved parties.
Opposition leaders, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rotimi Amaechi, have vowed to challenge the Act, calling it “anti-democratic” and a threat to electoral transparency .
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