ADC inaugurates presidential campaign council and promises to save Nigeria

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has inaugurated its Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general elections, with party leaders pledging to present Nigerians with an alternative to President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The inauguration was carried out by the party’s National Chairman, Senator David Mark, on Friday at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Center in Abuja.

Mark described the ceremony as the formal activation of the party’s electoral machinery, tasking council members to work to mobilize Nigerians and ensure the party’s victory in the next presidential election.

He said the task goes beyond winning elections, urging the council to present a credible alternative that can restore public confidence in governance.

“This is a board dedicated to hard work. You were appointed to serve, mobilize and deliver results,” Mark said.

According to him, Nigeria is at a critical crossroads, with citizens seeking leadership that understands their challenges, respects their dignity and is committed to improving their living conditions.

“Our task is therefore bigger than winning an election. Our task is to present Nigerians with a credible alternative and give them reason to believe and trust that the essence of government is to protect them and improve their lives,” he said.

Mark’s homework tip on grassroots mobilization

The ADC Chairman urged members of the Electoral Council to reach out to every state, local government area, neighborhood and community, stressing that no part of the country should be taken for granted.

He called on the Council to involve traditional rulers, religious leaders, women, youth, workers, farmers, professionals, traders, artisans, students and people living with disabilities.

Mark also urged members to listen to Nigerians and address their concerns, insisting that the campaign should be driven by issues affecting families and communities rather than political rhetoric.

“Don’t take any community for granted. Earn the trust of the people. Let no one say the ADC didn’t come to them. Let no one say we didn’t listen,” he said.

He identified high cost of living, poverty, insecurity, unemployment, food prices, education, healthcare, infrastructure, inflation, good governance and the future of young people as key issues the campaign should address.

Mark said Nigerians are already familiar with their challenges and expect politicians to explain how they plan to solve them.

He added that the ADC presidential ticket of Atiku Abubakar and Rotimi Amaechi represents experience, capacity and national reach, but maintained that the ultimate goal should be Nigeria’s progress.

The former Senate President urged the candidates to communicate respectfully with Nigerians, listen to their concerns and campaign on competence, integrity, inclusion and national unity.

He also warned against violence, hate speech and revenge politics, urging party members to remain peaceful even in the face of insults or attacks during the campaign.

Mark said the party expects the Independent National Electoral Commission and other institutions responsible for conducting elections to remain impartial, transparent and professional.

He insisted that every eligible Nigerian must be able to vote freely, safely and without intimidation, adding that the ADC will compete within the confines of the law.

ADC Campaign Chairman Declares ‘Rescue Mission’

The Chairman of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, has described the 2027 elections as a mission to save Nigeria from the current economic and security challenges.

He said the council was not established to hand out political headlines but to initiate a nationwide effort to mobilize Nigerians for a change of government.

“Let no one confuse this meeting with a ceremony. We did not come here to collect headlines. We came here to start a rescue,” Ibrahim-Imam said.

He urged Nigerians dissatisfied with the state of the country to obtain permanent voter ID and actively participate in the electoral process.

The campaign chairman called on council members to take the party’s message to the streets, markets, car parks, villages, churches and mosques, insisting that victory will depend on effective grassroots mobilisation.

He also praised the party’s leadership and paid tribute to the deputy chairman of the electoral council, Nasir El-Rufai, saying that his spirit and ideology remained with the team.

Ibrahim-Imam urged members to put aside factional disputes and personal rivalries, stressing that the campaign requires unity, discipline and a shared commitment to the party’s goals.

He said the outcome of the elections will largely depend on the activities of polling units, where party agents and supporters will have to protect votes cast for their candidates.

The Council expresses concerns about the economy and insecurity

In his speech, Ibrahim-Imam criticized the economic policies of the Tinubu administration, citing rising food prices, public debt, insecurity and poverty as the main concerns of Nigerians.

He said Nigeria’s public debt increased from N87.38tn at the start of the current administration to N166.79tn as of June 30, 2026, citing figures attributed to the Debt Management Office.

He also criticized the increase in petrol prices following the removal of the fuel subsidy, saying the development contributed to rising transport costs and rising prices of food and other essential goods.

The ADC campaign chairman has questioned some government spending decisions, arguing that the administration should give greater priority to the economic hardships facing Nigerian citizens.

He also cited concerns expressed by religious leaders regarding insecurity, economic policies and the migration of professionals from the country.

Ibrahim-Imam compared the current economic situation with Nigeria’s performance between 1999 and 2007, when he said the economy expanded significantly and the country’s foreign reserves increased.

He attributed the growth during that period partly to the economic policies pursued under the administration in which Atiku Abubakar was vice president and chairman of the National Economic Council.

According to him, Nigeria’s economy grew from $58 billion to $270 billion between 1999 and 2007, while foreign reserves increased from $3.7 billion to $45 billion.

He described Atiku and Amaechi as seasoned politicians with the capacity to lead the country, urging Nigerians to consider the ADC ticket as an option in the 2027 elections.

Atiku and Amaechi lead the ADC campaign team

The inauguration was attended by the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar; vice presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi; Ibrahim-Imam; El-Rufai; and the Director General of the Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Austin Akobundu.

Ibrahim-Imam urged eligible voters to collect their voter cards, participate peacefully in the elections and remain vigilant during the comparison and announcement of the results.

He called on supporters to vote on January 16, 2027 and to remain engaged until their votes are counted and the results are announced.

The campaign chairman assured the party leadership that the council members have accepted the responsibility entrusted to them and will work to fulfill their mandate.