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By Prosper Olayiwola

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has unveiled the major qualities it will demand from aspirants seeking to contest under its platform in 2027.

Speaking at the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark said the party would field only candidates who meet its “four-pillar standard” of character, competence, courage, and discipline.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who has been championing the coalition idea since his defeat as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023 and has emerged as one of the ADC’s leaders, is widely believed to be positioning himself for another presidential bid after six previous attempts. His decision to champion the emergence of the coalition is seen as a strategic move to lead a united opposition front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

However, there have been persistent speculations that former President Goodluck Jonathan may also emerge as a consensus candidate within the coalition, given his close ties to some influential southern and northern blocs within the ADC. Party insiders say Jonathan’s name continues to feature prominently in informal consultations, although he has yet to make any public statement on the matter.

Penultimate week, Jonathan visited Mark at his Abuja residence. Mark was Senate President during the administration of Jonathan between 2010-2015. While the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, told Daily Trust the visit was private, observers believe it could be linked to 2027 permutations, with the ADC said to be considering the acceptability of a Jonathan candidacy.

Meanwhile, both 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi and former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi have openly indicated interest in contesting, even pledging to serve only a single term under a North-South zoning arrangement. The declaration, analysts say, could shape negotiations within the ADC coalition as it works to finalize its power-sharing and zoning arrangements ahead of 2027.

But speaking on Tuesday, Mark said, “We will field only credible and viable candidates who meet our four-pillar standard. Nigerians will accept nothing less.”

“Our mission goes beyond winning elections; it is to build a leadership model that restores trust, reforms governance, and leaves a legacy that future generations will be proud of.”

To do this, we will build a party that outlives us all. Other parties revolve around individuals; the ADC will revolve around rules, policies, programmes, people, and results. We will insist on team spirit, collaboration, and internal democracy. The supremacy we seek is the supremacy of our constitution and institutions-over everything: personality, improvisation, and idiosyncrasy.

“Our mission is not only to attain power in 2027; it is to leave a legacy which the future generations will be proud to inherit. We are in a marathon we must complete-and win. Failure is not an option,” he said.

Mark stressed that the ADC must depart from the culture of self-serving politics that has long defined Nigeria’s leadership.

“We begin with a conviction that Nigeria can, and will, work for everyone-and with a commitment to build a party bigger than any personality, stronger than any moment and positively different from any party in the annals of our country,” he said.

He said the party’s broader objectives include strengthening institutional independence, promoting transparency, and implementing economic reforms that translate into real improvements in citizens’ lives. “Nigerians are tired of slogans and statistics that do not improve their lives. Judge us by what Nigerians feel in their daily lives—more reliable power, visible projects, and decent work,” he said.

He added that the NWC “has urgent tasks. We must review our constitution to reflect the new order, develop a code of ethics, financing rules, and compliance systems. We must establish functional ward, local government, and state structures with trained organizers, digital registers, and service desks. And we will field only credible and viable candidates who meet the 4-pillar standard-Character, Competence, Courage, and Discipline.

“Nigeria and Nigerians-will accept nothing less. The political class has too often served itself. We must change this outdated pattern. We must model a new attitude to leadership across every sphere-public, private, and civic. Let it be said of the ADC that we kept faith with the people, that we were steady under pressure, honest in our dealings, and relentless in delivery. We do not seek power for its own sake; we seek it to build a legacy worthy of our children.”

Mark also pledged that an ADC-led government would restore the separation of powers and ensure judicial and legislative independence. “The judiciary must again be a refuge for every citizen. We will support a merit-based, efficient, and trusted bench—one that prioritizes justice over technicalities,” he stated.

On foreign policy, Mark said the ADC would pursue a “Pan-African and pragmatic” approach focused on regional integration, diaspora investment, and trade expansion within Africa to promote stability and shared prosperity.

Party sets up registration committee

Meanwhile, the NWC resolved to consolidate the coalition’s structure ahead of the 2027 elections by setting up several committees, including the Membership Registration Committee, Constitution Review Committee, Policy Advocacy Committee, and Party Rebranding Committee.

A senior source at the meeting told Daily Trust that the registration committee was mandated to oversee a nationwide membership drive aimed at integrating new members and formalizing the status of opposition leaders who have been working with the ADC coalition.

Although former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, and Senator Aminu Tambuwal have all aligned with the ADC-led coalition, they are yet to formally register as members.

The party had previously granted them a waiver to remain in their legacy parties during the August by-elections, as many of their supporters had already obtained nomination forms under those platforms. But weeks after the polls, they have yet to make their defection official, fuelling speculation about the coalition’s direction.

In a recent Trust TV interview, Atiku’s spokesman, Paul Ibe, maintained that the former vice president’s alignment with the ADC was “irreversible” despite not having collected his membership card. “Atiku has attended all ADC stakeholders’ meetings, as have Peter Obi and El-Rufai,” he said.

ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi said after the meeting that the registration exercise was designed to “translate the coalition into a functional political movement” and prepare the party for its forthcoming congresses and primaries. (Daily Trust)