Shelve Personal Interests, Mark Urges ADC Leaders

The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark, has called on leaders and members of the party to set aside personal interests and work collectively to strengthen the party ahead of future political engagements.

Mark made the appeal on Tuesday in Abuja while receiving the report of the party’s Constitution Review Committee, describing the moment as a significant milestone in the ADC’s institutional development.

The committee, chaired by Etigwe Uwa, SAN wasinaugured on January 8 this year.

Mark, who was represented by the party’s national legal adviser, Prof Oserheimen Osunbor, commended members of the committee for their dedication and thoroughness, noting that constitutional review is a critical and demanding process that requires inclusiveness, foresight, and commitment to the party’s ideals. According to him, the committee lived up to expectations through extensive consultations across various levels of the party.

He said, “At this critical juncture in our national life, Nigerians are looking up to credible alternatives—parties that are organized, principled, and people-oriented. The ADC must continue to position itself as that viable platform. A strong, clear, and forward-looking constitution is central to achieving this objective.

“I therefore urge all party members to remain united, focused, and committed as we move to the next stage of this process. Let us put aside personal interests and work collectively to build a party that truly reflects the hopes and aspirations of Nigerians,” he said.

The ADC chairman emphasized that the party’s constitution remains the foundation of its identity and operations, stressing that any review must reflect current realities, strengthen internal democracy, and promote transparency and accountability.

He assured stakeholders that the National Working Committee would carefully examine the recommendations of the report, with a commitment to fairness, justice, and equity in implementing necessary reforms.

Mark, however, warned that no constitution can replace the need for discipline, loyalty, and commitment among party members. He said the success of the ADC depends not only on well-crafted rules but also on the willingness of members to adhere to them.

Highlighting the current political climate, he noted that Nigerians are in search of credible and people-oriented alternatives, urging the ADC to position itself as a strong and principled platform capable of meeting those expectations.

He concluded by urging unity within the party, calling on members to remain focused and committed as the next phase of the constitutional review process unfolds.

The ADC, he said, must continue to evolve into a party that truly reflects the aspirations of Nigerians.

Earlier in his speech, the Chairman of the ADC Constitution Review Committee, Etigwe Uwa, SAN explained that the report highlighted the work of the committee and the need to address the innovations introduced into the draft constitution and the significant areas of departure from the original constitution.

He said: “The committee set out to examine the constitution and fashion a document not just for the ADC, but one that could serve as a model for others in future—a constitution capable of addressing some of the issues that have plagued Nigeria’s political party system.

“So, while we saw this as an assignment from the party, we considered it, more importantly, a national responsibility.

“We have also introduced affirmative action provisions, proposing 30% representation for women and 20% for youths, alongside measures to ensure inclusion of persons living with disabilities.

“We reviewed the structure of party offices. While some positions were streamlined, transitional provisions have been included to address the realities of the party’s current stage as a growing coalition.

“We have also introduced a robust arbitration framework in response to evolving legal constraints on internal party litigation. This provides members with structured mechanisms for resolving grievances, reducing the likelihood of defections arising from unresolved disputes.

“Recognising that we operate in an era of disruption, we have emphasised adaptability. The experiences of once-dominant companies that failed to evolve serve as a cautionary tale. Political parties, too, must remain forward-looking. This informed the decision to elevate the role of technology within the party’s leadership structure.

“We also proposed the inclusion of accomplished professionals—individuals with proven leadership in industry—who can contribute strategic insights, particularly in areas such as innovation, scaling, and organisational management.

“The work is not perfect, and there is room for further refinement. However, the process has begun, and we believe this framework, if adopted, will significantly strengthen the party.”