Senator David Mark, the Interim National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has stated that the party under his leadership will not accept candidate imposition, anti-party activity, or other types of indiscipline.
Mark stated this during a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party in Abuja.
The temporary chairman promised to serve the party with integrity, transparency, courage, and vision.
He praised the outgoing National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, and his staff for their patriotism, efforts, and dedication in growing the ADC over the years and ceding party leadership in the national good.
He also thanked all party leaders and committed members who helped the party expand, promising them that his leadership would be fair and just.
“I assure you that under my leadership, we shall be committed to full democratic practices and principles that abhor imposition and special privileges. Internal democracy, transparency, and accountability will be our mantra.
“We will guarantee collective leadership at all levels. We will build a technically competent bureaucracy for the party and ensure structured financing. All members will truly own the party.
“We shall revamp our grassroots leadership structures to reflect modern realities. From the polling units and wards up to the national level, every organ will be re-energised,” he said.
The former senate president also promised inclusion for the youth and women.
”Our policies, nominations, and leadership roles will reflect meaningful inclusion of youths and women and not just tokenism.
“This is why we have reserved 35 percent of our leadership positions for women. It is also our commitment to have youths below the age of 40 years in our leadership,” he said.
He stated that the new National Working Committee (NWC) would form committees as soon as possible to evaluate the party’s manifesto and constitution in order to meet and reflect the Nigerian people’s desires.
“We shall clearly articulate what we stand for. Nigerians must know us as a party driven by unblemished ideology, progressive policies, and patriotic governance.
“We will not leave it to the discretion of individual candidates to choose what to do with power,” he affirmed.
Mark indicated that the ADC would form a 50-member policy committee to focus on critical areas in the coming days.
He cited health, education, agriculture, technology, security, the economy, and infrastructure as examples of the party’s commitment to good governance for Nigerians.
He asked all Nigerians to join the ADC, describing it as the only party that ensures equal opportunities regardless of age, gender, religion, or region.
He also asked all ADC members to return to their polling stations and start working at the grassroots level, rather than staying in Abuja.
Earlier in his speech, Nwosu emphasised the ADC’s considerable expansion, claiming it had evolved from a “small largest party in Nigeria” to a strong political force under Mark’s leadership.
Nwosu highlighted an increase in the number of persons seeking ADC registration across the country, stating that the party’s website collapsed three times due to the surge of young people attempting to register online.
He hailed the national coalition’s endorsement of ADC and the announcement of Mark’s leadership on July 2 as the start of a new era.
“Within one week, our membership grew from maybe 600 people who were paying membership dues to almost three million who started paying membership dues.
“Some states have told us that we must print a minimum of two million membership cards for them,” he said.
Nwosu asked the courts, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and other Nigerian democratic institutions to be mindful of their obligations in carrying out their mandate.
Godson Okoye, an ADC chieftain, urged party members to be optimistic, characterising the ADC as a party set to lead Nigeria into economic success.
“This journey has just begun; let us encourage ourselves,” Okoye said.
