African Democratic Congress

Political party in Nigeria

African Democratic Congress

Chairperson| David Mark
Secretary| Rauf Aregbesola
Founder| Ralph Nwosu
Founded| 2005 (2005)
Headquarters| Abuja, Nigeria
Ideology| Big Tent
National Assembly|

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Website
adc.org.ng

* Politics of Nigeria
* Political parties
* Elections

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is a political party in Nigeria.[1] As of 2022, Ralph Nwosu is the National Chairman.[2] There are 2 ADC lawmakers currently in the Nigerian National Assembly.[3] There are no ADC senators in the Nigerian Senate.[4][3]

In 2025, Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, the leaders of Nigeria's two main opposition parties, The Labour and People's Democratic parties, respectively joined the ADC.

ADC leaders described the move as an attempt to prevent one-party rule by the All Progressives Congress, and to present a united front in the 2027 presidential elections. Analyst Iliyasu Hadi suggested that this realignment would lead to the ADC emerging as Nigeria's main opposition party.[5]

## History

[edit]

The party was originally named "Alliance for Democratic Change" when it was formed in 2005, but renamed the African Democratic Congress by the time the party was registered with the Nigerian Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).[6] The goal of this name change was for the party to be able "to effectively encompass and reflect the aspirations of our people."[7][8]

On 10 May 2018, the party was adopted by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo's political movement called the "Coalition for Nigeria Movement" (CNM).[9] Obasanjo now serves as the chairman for the party. Per his speech titled "My Treatise For Future Of Democracy And Development In Nigeria", the goal of the CNM adopting the ADC was "to work with others for bringing about desirable change in the Nigeria polity and governance".[10]

## Constitution

[edit]

The African Democratic Congress outlines the details of the party and its workings.[11] The party constitution contains a preamble, 27 articles, and three schedules.[12] According to the constitution, the goal of the ADC is to be a "grassroots party" composed primarily of working-class and disadvantaged Nigerians.[12] The constitution also outlines that membership of the ADC party is open to "every citizen of Nigeria irrespective religion, ethnic group, place of birth, sex, social or economic status".[12]

## Elections

[edit]

### Presidential

[edit]

In the 2007 Nigerian Presidential Election, the ADC put forth candidate Patrick Utomi.[13] He obtained 50,849 votes, and placed 4th in the election.[13]

In the 2011 Nigerian Presidential Election, its candidate was Rev. Peter Uchenna Nwangwu.[14] He obtained 51,682 votes and placed 8th out of the 20 candidates in the election.[15]

In the 2015 Nigerian Presidential Election, the ADC put forth Dr. Mani Ibrahim Ahmad as their candidate. He obtained 29,666 votes which was 0.10% of the votes cast.[16] He placed 7th out of 14 candidates.[15]

In the 2019 Nigerian Presidential Election, the ADC put forth candidate Obadiah Mailafia. He obtained 97,874 votes and placed 4th out of 73 candidates in the election.[17]

For the selection of their candidates for the 2023 Nigerian Presidential Election, the ADC used the Indirect Primary method in which only accredited delegates participated in the nomination of candidates that would run on the platform of the party at the 2023 Nigerian general election.[18] On 9 June 2022, the African Democratic Congress selected Dumebi Kachikwu as the candidate for the 2023 Nigerian general election Nigerian general elections.[19]

### Gubernatorial

[edit]

These are the results obtained by ADC candidates in general Gubernatorial Elections in Nigeria:

2011[15] Candidate  | State  | Number of Votes Obtained  | Place  | Total Number of Candidates

|
|
|
|

Dr. Zainab Baba Mbila Kwonchi  | Adamawa | 2,846  | 5th  | 5
Tare-Otu Actor Lugard  | Bayelsa | 96  | 18th  | 35
Alhaji Abba Mohammed  | Borno | 1,223  | 10th  | 12
Chief Frederick Uzodinma  | Enugu | 42  | 16th  | 16
Osagide Lugard  | Lagos | 8,365  | 4th  | 15
Mallam Shehu Abdullahi  | Sokoto | 318  | 21st  | 30
2013[15] Candidate  | State  | Number of Votes Obtained  | Place  | Total Number of Candidates

|
|
|
|

Chief Anayo A. Arinze  | Anambra | 699  | 9th  | 23

2014[15] Candidate  | State  | Number of Voted Obtained  | Place  | Total Number of Candidates

|
|
|
|

Oroko Bola  | Ekiti | 542  | 10th  | 18
Comrde Gabriel G. Ojo  | Osun | 1,783  | 9th  | 20

### Senatorial

[edit]

These are the results obtained by ADC candidates in general Senatorial Elections in Nigeria:

2011[15] Candidate  | State  | District  | Number of Votes Obtained  | Place  | Total Number of Candidates

|
|
|
|
|

Chief Kenneth C. Modekwe  | Anambra | Anambra Central  | 1,870  | 5th  | 11
Chief O.C. Ebeze  | Anambra | Anambra North  | 4,005  | 5th  | 12
Chukwunwike Nweke  | Anambra | Anambra South  | 902  | 9th  | 12
Alh Abdulkadir Suleiman  | Borno | Borno Central  | 1,256  | 7th  | 7
Barde Auwal Abba  | Gombe | Gombe South  | 357  | 5th  | 5
Ibrahim Suleiman  | Kaduna | Kaduna Central  | 1,366  | 7th  | 7
Ibrahim Suleiman  | Kaduna | Kaduna North  | 564  | 6th  | 6
Abdullahi M. Bamalli  | Kaduna | Kaduna South  | 827  | 7th  | 8
Isa Muhd Chiomawa  | Kano | Kano Central  | 2,430  | 7th  | 12
Lawan Mai'unguwwa  | Kano | Kano North  | 3,133  | 7th  | 8
Amini Shittu  | Kano | Kano South  | 3,210  | 5th  | 8
Ibrahim Shehu Idris  | Katsina | Katsina Central  | 770  | 9th  | 9
Abdullahi Shehu  | Katsina | Katsina South  | 2,891  | 7th  | 7
Ibrahim Shehu Idris  | Kebbi | Kebbi South  | 846  | 6th  | 6
Abdullahi Tank  | Kogi | Kogi Central  | 148  | 9th  | 12
Uwani Ibrahim  | Kogi | Kogi East  | 1,314  | 5th  | 8
Ameen O. Wahab  | Kwara | Kwara Central  | 1  | 12th  | 12
Alh. Musa Hassan  | Niger | Niger East  | 1,486  | 5th  | 5
Mohammed Abdullahi  | Niger | Niger North  | 918  | 6th  | 6
Abdullahh Abubakar  | Niger | Niger South  | 11,991  | 4th  | 7
Soba Moh'd Zakabiya  | Plateau | Plateau North  | 2,423  | 7th  | 10

### House of Representatives

[edit]

As of 2015, there were five ADC party members in the House of Representatives and represent constituencies in Oyo State.[20] Hon. Abiodun Olasupo represents the Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa constituency.[21] Hon. Adeyemi Sunday Adepoju represents the Ibarapa East/Ido constituency.[22] Hon. Olusunbo Samson represents the Oluyole Local Govt. constituency [23] Hon. Lam Adedapo represents the Ibadan North-East/ Ibadan South-East constituency.[24] Hon. Akintola Taiwo represents the Ona-Ara/Egbeda constituency.[25]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "List of all Registered Political Parties, their Headquarters addresses and Principal Officers". Vanguard News. 2018-01-20. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
2. ^ Oboh (2022-07-25). "ADC's Nat'l Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, welcomes Mabel Oboh to head Diversity and Inclusion". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2022-08-16.
3. ^ a b "National Assembly". National Assembly. Retrieved 2022-08-16.
4. ^ "Senate". National Assembly. Retrieved 2018-12-10.
5. ^ Abubakar, Mansur. "Big shake-up in Nigerian politics as heavyweights join forces". bbc.com. BBC. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
6. ^ "SELECTED SPEECHES COMMUNIQUE, AND PRESS RELEASE WHILE ON ZONALTOURAMO LAND MARK EVENTS" (PDF). INEC Nigeria. 30 March 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
7. ^ "ADC-Manifesto" (PDF). INEC Nigeria. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
8. ^ "ADC - African Democratic Congress". adc.org.ng. Retrieved 2022-08-16.
9. ^ "Obasanjo's coalition adopts ADC as political party". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2018-11-28.
10. ^ "Obasanjo's Coalition Turns Partisan, Adopts ADC". Channels Television. Retrieved 2022-08-16.
11. ^ "Constitutions & Manifestos « INEC Nigeria". INEC. Archived from the original on 2018-10-18. Retrieved 2018-10-12.
12. ^ a b c "ADC - Constitution" (PDF). INEC Nigeria. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 October 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
13. ^ a b Tar, Usman A.; Zack-Williams, Alfred B. (2007). "Nigeria: Contested Elections & an Unstable Democracy". Review of African Political Economy. 34 (113): 540–548\. JSTOR 20406428.
14. ^ "2011: Nigeria needs fine statesman, not politician - Nwangwu". Vanguard News. Nigeria. 2011-03-11. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
15. ^ a b c d e f "Elections Result « INEC Nigeria". INEC. Archived from the original on 2016-02-01. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
16. ^ "2015 Presidential Election Result".
17. ^ "Nigeria Presidential Elections Results 2019 - BBC News". News. Retrieved 2022-08-16.
18. ^ Olagoke, Bode (2022-05-23). "Presidency: 10 aspirants jostle for ADC ticket, pay N25m each for forms". Blueprint Newspapers. Retrieved 2022-08-16.
19. ^ "2023: Kachikwu Wins ADC Presidential Ticket, Beats Moghalu, Eight Others". THISDAYLIVE. Retrieved 2022-08-16.
20. ^ "House of Representatives". National Assembly. Retrieved 2018-12-10.
21. ^ "National Assembly". National Assembly. Retrieved 2018-12-10.
22. ^ "National Assembly". National Assembly. Retrieved 2018-12-10.
23. ^ "National Assembly". National Assembly. Retrieved 2018-12-10.
24. ^ "National Assembly". National Assembly. Retrieved 2018-12-10.
25. ^ "National Assembly". National Assembly. Retrieved 2018-12-10.

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