The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has responded to growing concerns that it may be diluting its core values by admitting a wave of political newcomers ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Monday, July 7, during Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, the party’s Board of Trustees (BOT) Chairman, Ibrahim Mani, clarified that the ADC remains guided by constitutional principles and remains focused on building a credible political alternative without sacrificing integrity.
“A political party is an all-comers affair,” Mani said. “You cannot categorise people who clearly have no criminal record because the constitutional requirement is that people who have been convicted by a competent court of law are forbidden from coming into political parties to contest elections. Or people who are underage or are not Nigerians.”
He explained that while the ADC welcomes individuals committed to national development, the party is not a shortcut for political ambition.
“It doesn’t mean everybody comes in and at the end of the day they are able to achieve whatever political ambition they are coming with,” he said. “What we are looking at is how to build a party that will be the face of the opposition movement in Nigeria.”
Mani said that the party’s constitution emphasises inclusiveness, accountability, and transparency, stressing that those values remain non-negotiable regardless of who joins the party.
He also reaffirmed that the ADC is not opening its doors out of desperation but rather as part of a deliberate effort to construct a strong and principled opposition that can challenge the country’s ruling party.
“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 to be a one-party state,” he said.
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Mani further revealed that the party had experienced an overwhelming surge in membership in recent days, as Nigerians, disillusioned by current economic conditions, seek new political directions.
“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,” he said.
He noted that while party structure takes time to build, Nigerians are beginning to “key into the vision” of the ADC and see it as a viable alternative.
“We are trying to build a new party bottom-up,” Mani said. “Nigerians have been waiting to have an opportunity to have a party or an alternative to the current situation they are faced with.”
According to the BOT chairman, the widespread frustration in the country has made citizens more politically conscious and eager to engage.
“When people see a sign that something positive is likely going to happen, of course, they will gravitate towards such an opportunity. And that is exactly what we are experiencing in the ADC,” he said.
The ADC recently made headlines after adopting a coalition of opposition leaders on its platform to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Former Senate President David Mark, former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola, and ex-Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi were appointed as interim leaders of the coalition, which aims to provide a united front against the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Despite criticisms following the party’s structural overhaul, Mani said the ADC remains a constitutional and inclusive party with a clear sense of purpose.