James Adamu and Beatrice Gondye
A faction of the African Democratic Congress led by Nafiu Gombe on Friday issued a detailed timetable and guidelines for the conduct of congresses and a national convention, in a move aimed at positioning the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The circular, personally signed by Gombe, outlines activities scheduled to begin on January 5, 2026, with a Board of Trustees meeting and followed by a National Executive Committee meeting two days later.
The guidelines are intended to strengthen internal democracy and streamline the party’s structure for future electoral contests.
This development comes just one day after the same faction distanced itself from the reported defection and registration of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, at the party’s Enugu zonal office, describing the process as a violation of the ADC’s constitution.
The released schedule includes key activities such as membership registration and revalidation, scheduled to run from January 2 to 15, 2026. This will be followed by ward executive committee congresses on January 17, with a window for addressing arising matters between January 19 and 22.
Local government congresses are slated for January 24, while state executive committee congresses are scheduled for January 31, 2026. The National Working Committee convention is set to take place between February 13 and 15, 2026.
In the circular, the faction emphasised strict compliance with its constitution. “Only validly registered or revalidated members whose names appear in the official membership register shall be eligible to participate in the congresses,” the statement read.
State chapters have been directed to formally notify the National Secretariat of the dates, venues, and times of their congresses to enable proper communication with the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Regarding logistics and candidacy, the guidelines state: “All persons willing to contest for state offices shall register their intentions with the State Congress Committee with an intention fee of N2,000, which the Congress Committee may utilise for the purpose of financing the congresses, in part.”
The party also stressed that the composition and distribution of state executive committee positions should, as much as practicable, reflect senatorial zones in line with its constitutional provisions on zoning.
Discussion about this post