The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has moved to consolidate opposition support ahead of the 2027 general elections, appointing prominent allies of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi to its newly inaugurated Membership, Revalidation, Mobilisation and Registration Committee.
The 20-member committee was inaugurated on Tuesday in Abuja by the party’s National Chairman, David Mark, as part of efforts to strengthen the ADC’s structures and build a credible, nationwide membership base.
Former presidential aide Kashim Imam was named chairman of the committee, with civil rights activist Aisha Yesufu appointed deputy chairman, while Sekonte Davies will serve as secretary.
Other members of the panel include Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, Dr Tanko Yunusa, Senator Nurudeen Abatemi, Hon. Yomi Arokodare, Remi Fanibe, Adljat Ojelade, Hon. (Mrs.) Abeje Egwa, Hon. Abas Anas Adamu, Paul Lawrence Okorie, Dr (Mrs.) Esther Irebo, Hon. Abdullahi Maibasira, Sir Stanley Ekezie, Prof. Festus Arunaye, Jibrin Sabo Keana, Hon. Mina Horsfall, Hon. Shehu Mohammed Koko and Chief Gbazuagu Nneke Gbazuagu.
Speaking at the inauguration, Mark said the committee had been tasked with harmonising existing membership records, eliminating inconsistencies and submitting a 30-day interim report to the party’s National Working Committee.
He said a strong and verifiable membership register was critical to the legitimacy and electoral strength of any political party.
“As we look ahead to future political engagements, it has become necessary to revalidate our existing members, register new ones, strengthen our grassroots presence and harmonise our membership records nationwide,” Mark said.
According to him, the committee’s mandate includes overseeing nationwide registration of new members, developing a grassroots mobilisation strategy, deploying an electronic registration platform alongside manual registers, and recommending standardised procedures for continuous membership revalidation and data management.
Mark urged the committee to carry out the exercise with integrity, transparency and fairness, stressing that it was designed to strengthen and reposition the party rather than exclude any group.
“This exercise is about inclusion, organising and repositioning our party to meet the expectations of Nigerians who yearn for credible leadership and democratic governance,” he said.
Responding on behalf of the committee, Chairman Kashim Imam pledged that members would work tirelessly to expand the party’s reach, particularly among ordinary Nigerians.
Describing the ADC as a grassroots movement, Imam said the party would focus on mobilising the masses and restoring confidence in the political process.
“We will not sleep, we will not rest. You will see us mobilising and registering members in the creeks, in the deserts and across the length and breadth of this country. This is a mass movement,” he said.
The ADC was adopted in July 2025 as the coalition platform for opposition leaders seeking to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
Since then, the party, led by David Mark as National Chairman and former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, has stepped up efforts to build nationwide structures and attract support from key opposition blocs, including the Obidient movement.
Leave a Reply