BREAKING: ADC Amends Its Constitution at Abuja Convention as Opposition Figures Warn of Debt Crisis

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) formally amended its party constitution on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at the conclusion of its national convention held at the Rainbow Event Centre in Abuja — a gathering that brought together prominent opposition figures who directed pointed criticism at the federal government ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to Channels Television, former Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha, who chaired the party’s Electoral Sub-Committee, announced that 1,576 delegates were accredited for the vote. Of those, 1,471 delegates — representing 94 percent — voted in favour of the constitutional amendment, with 11 ballots voided.

Before voting commenced, the party ratified resolutions from its 97th, 98th, and 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings. Among the resolutions adopted were a waiver of membership entry requirements, the suspension of zoning provisions for executive positions, and the setting aside of a rule that required vacant offices to be filled by candidates from the same geopolitical zone as their predecessors.

The 99th NEC meeting’s resolution dissolving the National Working Committee previously led by Chief Ralph Nwosu was also formally ratified. The David Mark-led NWC, which has been the subject of a dispute with INEC, was confirmed as the body with full authority over the party’s affairs going forward.

In his closing address, ADC National Chairman and former Senate President David Mark stated that Tuesday’s convention marked the formal start of the party’s campaign to win the 2027 presidential election. Mark, who previously served in the Peoples Democratic Party, told delegates the day would be remembered as a turning point in the party’s political history.

Atiku Targets INEC

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, now an ADC chieftain, used his address at the convention to accuse INEC and its Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, of acting to suppress democratic participation. He alleged that the electoral commission was being directed to obstruct opposition activity and warned that he and other party leaders would hold the institution accountable for what he described as unlawful conduct.

INEC had declined to monitor the ADC’s congresses and convention, citing an existing court process, but the party proceeded regardless, maintaining it had fulfilled all legal notification requirements.

Peter Obi on Nigeria’s Debt

Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi raised concerns about Nigeria’s growing debt burden, citing figures that suggest government borrowing has more than doubled since the current administration took office. Obi noted that the petrol subsidy removal, which he said was intended to reduce reliance on debt financing, had not translated into reduced borrowing. He stated that contractors remain unpaid and that projects in the 2025 budget have yet to be funded.

Amaechi on Insecurity

Former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi addressed the security situation in several parts of the country, drawing on footage he said he witnessed from Nasarawa State, where residents were reportedly fleeing attacks. He described the scenes as reminiscent of Nigeria’s civil war period and called for firmer action from authorities.

Aregbesola Challenges Tinubu

ADC National Secretary and former Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola delivered a direct challenge to President Bola Tinubu’s administration, declaring that the ruling party’s central campaign message had produced no tangible outcomes for Nigerians in the three years since it was adopted. He called on the President to account for worsening living conditions and called on Nigerians to use the 2027 elections to demand accountability.

The convention’s conclusion, despite INEC’s non-participation and an ongoing legal dispute over the party’s recognised leadership, marks a significant moment in the ADC’s effort to position itself as a credible opposition platform before the next general election cycle.