The Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ibrahim Mani, has dismissed concerns that the party compromised its core values to accommodate new political entrants, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-presidential candidate Peter Obi.
Speaking on Monday during a live appearance on The Morning Brief, Mani clarified that the ADC remains guided by constitutional provisions and is focused on building a credible, inclusive opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“A political party is an all-comers affair,” Mani said, stressing that only individuals barred by law — such as convicted criminals or non-citizens — are excluded. “You cannot categorise people who have no criminal record as not worthy of joining.”
His comments follow controversy surrounding the recent dissolution of the ADC’s existing structures by former chairman Ralph Nwosu, a move aimed at repositioning the party as a coalition platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s expected re-election bid.
A coalition led by Atiku Abubakar recently adopted the ADC as its political vehicle and announced former Senate President David Mark as interim National Chairman, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as Secretary, and former Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi as Publicity Secretary.
Mani defended the restructuring as a necessary strategy to offer Nigerians a credible alternative to the two dominant parties.
“It doesn’t mean everybody comes in and achieves whatever political ambition they are coming with,” he noted. “What we are trying to build is a party that will be the face of the opposition movement in Nigeria.”
Push for Credible Opposition
Mani reiterated that the ADC’s goal is to prevent Nigeria from sliding into a one-party system, warning that democratic vibrancy depends on viable alternatives.
“It’s better to build a party with people who believe in the fact that there should be a credible opposition in Nigeria than allow the country to drift into a one-party state,” he said.
He also revealed that the party has witnessed a surge in membership since news broke of the coalition realignment.
“We had to host our website on three different occasions within the last week because it was crashing as a result of the influx of people wanting to register online as members of the party,” Mani disclosed.
Building From the Grassroots
According to the BoT chairman, the ADC’s strategy involves grassroots mobilisation and inclusive engagement, which he believes will distinguish it from existing political formations.
“We are trying to build a new party bottom-up,” he said. “Of course, Nigerians have been waiting for an opportunity to have an alternative to the current situation they are faced with.”
Public Frustration and Momentum
Mani acknowledged the widespread hardship in the country and said the ADC is fast becoming a political refuge for many Nigerians seeking hope.
“Knowing fully well things are not as they should be… when people see a sign that something positive is likely going to happen, they gravitate towards it. And that is exactly what we are experiencing in the ADC,” he added.
His remarks come as the political space heats up ahead of 2027, with opposition leaders such as Peter Obi already declaring their presidential ambitions. Analysts have stressed the urgent need for robust alternatives to sustain Nigeria’s democracy and provide credible options for governance.
