The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged Nigerians to unite and protect the nation’s democracy and electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The director-general of ADC’s Directorate for Mobilisation, Civil Societies and Progressives Engagements, Rwang Pam Jr, emphasised the urgency of this initiative at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday.
Pam, who also chairs the Coalition to Protect and Defend Our Democracy (COPDEM), stated that it is crucial for all Nigerians, from market traders in Zamfara to students in Calabar, professionals in Lagos to farmers in Benue, to rise up and reclaim their country.
“The soul of Nigeria’s democracy is under siege. Unless we rise united and resolute to reclaim it, we may soon find ourselves in an irreversible state of tyranny,” he warned.
Pam expressed concern over the current state of Nigeria, describing it as ‘alarming.’
He noted that mass defections to the ruling party have severely undermined the nation’s multiparty democracy.
“Electoral outcomes are increasingly determined by coercion and judicial compromise, while insecurity continues to ravage communities with little to no consequence for those in power,” he said.
He further lamented that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is transforming Nigeria into a one-party state, a historical trend that is always fraught with peril.
“The opposition voices are being absorbed or silenced, and institutions of accountability are neutralized, while public disillusionment is at an all-time high,” he added.
Conceding that both the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) have failed to serve as effective checks on power, Pam stated, “Instead of being sources of credible opposition, they have become shadows of themselves, fragmented, distracted, and reactive.”
He expressed concern over the troubling situation in Rivers State, saying that it is a stark example of Nigeria’s democratic decline.
“What we see in Rivers is a prototype of martial law disguised as civilian administration. If left unchallenged, it will become the new normal across Nigeria,” he said.
Pam stressed the need for a political vehicle to empower the people, stating that the Nigerian Constitution designates political parties as the sole sponsors of candidates for public office.
The director general called for a platform that is open to all Nigerians, regardless of tribe, religion, or status, and committed to equal opportunities for all members.
He revealed that the ADC recently amended Article 9 of its constitution, allowing any Nigerian joining the party to be immediately eligible to vote, hold party office, and contest for any elective position, including the presidency.
“That platform is the African Democratic Congress (ADC),” he affirmed, emphasising the need for unity, transparency, and merit in leadership.
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