ADC to adopt new manifesto at April 14 national convention

…we’re ready to govern – David Mark

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is finalising its new manifesto to be adopted at its national convention scheduled for April 14, 2026, as part of efforts to position the party for the 2027 general elections.

The convention is also expected to produce a new crop of National Working Committee (NWC) members and take key decisions aimed at strengthening the party’s structure and electoral readiness.

BusinessDay reports that a party manifesto is a formal public document issued by a political party ahead of an election, outlining its policies, priorities, and governing agenda if elected.

It also serves as a key campaign tool, presenting the party’s vision and proposed solutions on critical issues such as the economy, healthcare, education, and national development, while also offering voters a clear basis for assessing its commitments.

John Odigie-Oyegun, Chairman of the ADC Policy and Manifesto Committee, who presented the committee’s interim report to the NWC on Tuesday in Abuja, said work on the manifesto was at an advanced stage and would be finalised ahead of the convention.

He explained that the committee was mandated to develop a coherent, solution-driven framework that presents the ADC as a government-in-waiting.

According to him, eleven sectoral sub-committees examined critical areas including the economy, agriculture, energy, infrastructure, governance, security, health, industrialisation, foreign policy, and the environment.

He noted that a central theme emerging from the work is the need to build a citizen-centred state where institutions deliver value, the economy creates jobs, and governance improves lives.

Oyegun stressed that Nigeria’s challenge lies not in a lack of plans but in weak institutional delivery. He said the proposed framework focuses on rebuilding state capacity, strengthening the rule of law, and expanding productive capacity.

Oyegun, a former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) added that the committee would embark on nationwide consultations and expert engagements to refine the document before producing a credible, implementable manifesto that reflects the needs and aspirations of Nigerians.

Receiving the committee’s interim report, the ADC National Chairman, David Mark, a former Senate President, described the moment as a defining step for the party’s readiness to govern.

He said the development underscored ADC’s commitment to offering practical solutions, contrasting it with what he described as the ruling party’s focus on weakening opposition voices.

Mark stressed that lasting solutions require a clear understanding of underlying problems, warning that misdiagnosis would render even well-meaning reforms ineffective.

He noted that past economic reforms in Nigeria often failed due to poor sequencing and lack of protection for vulnerable groups. To address this, he said the committee proposed gradual, well-sequenced reforms backed by social cushioning.