The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has launched a nationwide membership revalidation, mobilisation and registration exercise, signalling what party leaders describe as a decisive reset aimed at strengthening its internal structures, expanding its grassroots base and repositioning the party for future political contests.
The exercise was formally unveiled in Abuja during the inauguration of the party’s Membership, Revalidation, Mobilisation and Registration (MRMR) Committee, an event that brought together national officers, party leaders and stakeholders from across the federation. Addressing the gathering, the National Chairman of the ADC, Senator David Mark, said the initiative was a strategic decision taken by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to address long standing structural gaps and prepare the party for greater national relevance.
According to Mark, a credible and verifiable membership register is central to the growth, legitimacy and survival of any political party, stressing that the ADC must first consolidate its internal foundations before it can effectively compete on the national stage.
“The African Democratic Congress was founded on the principles of justice, equity, accountability and people centered governance,” Mark said. “For these ideals to translate into political success, our party must rest on a solid, credible and verifiable membership base, supported by effective mobilisation structures across the federation.”
He emphasised that no political organisation could aspire to national relevance without a strong, active and properly documented membership, describing membership as the lifeblood of democratic politics. According to him, the strength, reach and legitimacy of a party are determined largely by the quality and organisation of its membership.
“As we look ahead to future political engagements, it has become imperative to revalidate our existing members, register new ones, strengthen our grassroots presence and harmonise our membership records nationwide,” the ADC chairman said.
Mark disclosed that the revalidation and registration exercise would also introduce new membership cards embedded with enhanced security features. He explained that the cards would be customised to individual states and the Federal Capital Territory, a move aimed at improving identification, preventing fraud and ensuring that party records reflect accurate and up to date information.
Charging members of the MRMR Committee, the former Senate President urged them to approach the assignment with integrity, fairness and transparency. He cautioned that the exercise must not be allowed to become a tool for exclusion or internal conflict, but rather a platform to unify and strengthen the party.
“Let me emphasise that this exercise is not about exclusion,” Mark said. “It is about inclusion, strengthening, organising and repositioning our party to meet the expectations of Nigerians who yearn for credible leadership and democratic governance.”
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the MRMR Committee, Alhaji Kashim Imam, described the inauguration as the beginning of a new chapter for the ADC. Speaking in emphatic terms, Imam said the party was undergoing a fundamental transformation aimed at returning it to its grassroots origins.
“There is a new regime, there is a new sheriff in town, and I am proud to say that this party is going to be a very different party,” he declared. “On behalf of all the members of my committee, I formally accept the responsibility that has been vested in us to serve the African Democratic Congress.”
Imam assured party members that the committee would discharge its mandate diligently and with a strong sense of responsibility. He said the overarching goal of the exercise was to reconnect the party with ordinary Nigerians and reposition it as a true grassroots movement.
“Most importantly, we will return the African Democratic Congress to the average Nigerian,” he said. “Our party is a grassroots movement. We will endeavour to ensure that we invite the peasants, the ordinary Nigerians, the masses, the poor and the downtrodden to take charge, to take responsibility and to assume ownership of the ADC.”
Emphasising the seriousness of the assignment, the committee chairman pledged that members of the MRMR Committee would work tirelessly to meet the targets and timelines set by the party leadership. He said the exercise would cut across all parts of the country, including hard to reach areas.
“I want to assure you that we will not sleep, we will not rest, we will work round the clock,” Imam said. “You will see us mobilising and registering members in the creeks, in the deserts and across the length and breadth of this country. This is a mass movement.”
According to the party, the MRMR Committee has been given a wide ranging mandate that includes overseeing the registration of new members nationwide, conducting a comprehensive revalidation of existing members and designing a mobilisation strategy with a strong grassroots focus. The committee is also tasked with harmonising existing membership records and deploying both electronic and manual registration platforms to ensure inclusivity and accessibility.
Party officials said the dual approach of electronic and manual registration was intended to accommodate members in urban centres as well as rural communities where access to digital infrastructure may be limited. The process is expected to generate a unified national database that will serve as the foundation for future party activities, including congresses, primaries and elections.
In addition to its operational responsibilities, the MRMR Committee is required to submit an interim report to the National Working Committee within 30 days. The report is expected to outline progress made, challenges encountered and recommendations for improving the exercise as it unfolds nationwide.
Political observers view the ADC’s move as part of a broader effort to rebrand and reposition itself amid shifting dynamics in Nigeria’s opposition space. With growing public discontent over governance and renewed interest in alternative political platforms, analysts say parties like the ADC are under pressure to demonstrate internal coherence, grassroots appeal and organisational credibility.
By prioritising membership revalidation and mobilisation, the ADC leadership appears to be signalling its intention to build from the bottom up, focusing on structure and participation rather than elite driven politics. Party insiders say the exercise will also help resolve lingering disputes over membership legitimacy and strengthen internal democracy.
As the nationwide exercise gathers momentum, the ADC has called on its members and supporters to actively participate and embrace the process as a collective effort to reposition the party. Party leaders insist that the success of the revalidation and mobilisation drive will determine the ADC’s readiness to play a more prominent role in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.
With the MRMR Committee now formally inaugurated and field operations set to commence across the country, the ADC says it is laying the groundwork for a revitalised party anchored on grassroots ownership, credible membership records and renewed organisational discipline.
