The African Democratic Congress (ADC) National Headquarters played host to a landmark gathering on April 29, 2026, as youth leaders, party executives, legislative aspirants, and stakeholders from across the country convened for the National Youth Champions Seminar and Prospective Legislative Summit. The event, described by participants as transformative, set a bold agenda for the party’s future and Nigeria’s democratic landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
A New Era of Youth Activism and Party Reform
The summit was marked by impassioned addresses from Comrade Balarabe Rufa’i, National Woman Leader Hon. Naomi Lasara Abel, former ADC chairman Dr. Ralph Nwosu, and other prominent figures, all of whom called for a renewed, action-driven commitment to the party’s core values and constitutional principles. Delegates described the gathering as more than a routine political event, instead characterizing it as a defining moment for the ADC’s ideological clarity, institutional strength, and generational resolve to reposition the party as a credible alternative in national politics.
Summit Resolutions: Constitution, Inclusion, and Institutional Reform
Central to the summit’s communiqué was a unanimous reaffirmation that the ADC Constitution remains the party’s supreme and binding authority. The youth leaders insisted that provisions guaranteeing youth inclusion—such as reserved governorship, senatorial, and state assembly tickets—are not mere promises but enforceable rights. Participants declared that the youth are not seeking permission but are asserting a constitutional mandate for full and immediate implementation.
Delegates called on the National Working Committee, led by Senator David Mark, to uphold and enforce these constitutional guarantees, insisting that the ADC’s credibility as a progressive force hinges on its willingness to deliver on inclusion and fairness. The summit threw its strong support behind reforms proposed by the National Youth Leader, including the establishment of key youth committees for screening, opinion polling, and legal strategy steps seen as essential to ensuring internal democracy, transparency, and effective grassroots mobilization for 2027.
Championing Inclusive Leadership and Gender Equity
Echoing the stance of the National Woman Leader, the summit underscored that inclusive leadership is not negotiable. Concrete opportunities for women, youths, and persons with disabilities must be institutionalized, with the 35% affirmative action principle translating into real positions of power rather than rhetorical commitments.
Defending Democracy Against Political Repression
The summit also issued a powerful message to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, warning against any attempts to intimidate, deregister, or silence opposition parties. Delegates described such moves as an attack on Nigeria’s constitutional democracy and vowed to legally resist any effort to exclude the ADC from the 2027 ballot, framing such exclusion as disenfranchisement of millions of Nigerians seeking credible alternatives.
A Generational Mission for Change
The communiqué concluded with a call to arms for ADC youth: to mobilize at the grassroots, defend votes, and ensure that the will of Nigerians is respected at the polls. Leaders pledged a generational mission to reclaim Nigeria, restore democratic values, and build a nation founded on justice, equity, and opportunity for all.
“The time for hesitation is over. The time for action is now,” the statement declared, signaling the ADC’s youth constituency’s determination to play a leading role in shaping the country’s democratic future.
Signed: Hon Joseph Enan Maigari, National Publicity Secretary NYCS2026 Comr Abel Abaji, Committee Chairman NYCS2026 Balarabe Rufai, National Youth Leader (ADC)
