Senator David Mark, National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, declared yesterday that the party's eighth national convention represents the start of a democratic transformation journey for Nigeria. Speaking at the Rainbow Event Marquee in Abuja, Mark told delegates they had answered a historic national call through their presence at the gathering, their attendance itself an act of courage in the face of institutional resistance.
Mark framed the convention as one of the most significant gatherings in recent Nigerian democratic history, not because of who stood at the podium, but because of what it represented: the survival of opposition democracy in Nigeria. He said the ADC was founded on the conviction that politics must be a call to service and not a ladder for personal ambitions, principles he committed to upholding in his role as party chairman.
The former senate president outlined the challenges the party had faced since beginning its current journey. He spoke of fierce and unprecedented betrayal, and accused forces opposed to a united ADC of launching coordinated attacks through the courts, institutional channels, and bureaucratic obstruction. According to Mark, these forces had removed the party's names from official portals, denied them preferred venues for the convention, and deployed every available instrument to prevent delegates from gathering.
Mark expressed particular concern about the Independent National Electoral Commission, saying recent developments had raised fundamental questions about the process governing Nigeria's democracy. He stated that the integrity of democratic institutions must be protected at all times, and declared that in an ever-shrinking democratic space orchestrated by those in the ruling party, the ADC would not bow, cower, or retreat.
He called on party members to demonstrate resilience, reminding them that strong political movements are not built in moments of ease and comfort but in times when a broken nation cries out for change. Mark stressed that surrendering would mean yielding to tyranny and becoming complicit in the destruction of democracy itself. He said the stakes transcended the ADC or the opposition generally, extending to the very survival of Nigeria's democratic system.
Mark declared that the ADC cannot be wished away or litigated into silence, asserting that the party belongs to the Nigerian people. He urged delegates present to be the answer to every doubt, threat, and scheme designed to keep Nigeria trapped in a one-party political future.
Meanwhile, other opposition voices echoed concerns about the state of Nigeria's democracy. Atiku Abubakar warned that the INEC chair was being used to subvert democracy, while Peter Obi stated that Nigeria was so divided it needed unity now. Rotimi Amaechi, another opposition figure, described the All Progressives Congress as shameless.
The ADC used the convention platform to declare itself an unstoppable force, accusing both the APC and INEC of undermining democratic principles. The party indicated it would continue its campaign to reposition itself as the platform through which Nigeria will be rescued and rebuilt. The convention took place amid the broader context of opposition parties challenging the electoral and democratic space in Nigeria.
