The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has declared that it will reserve at least 50 per cent of elective and appointive offices for women and youths.
NATIONAL POST reports that this is part of the opposition party’s strategy for inclusion, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
ADC is made up of a coalition of opposition politicians who are mobilizing to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Frontline leaders of the coalition are former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, ex-ministers, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Rauf Aregbesola, as well as former Kaduna governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
Speaking in Lagos on Saturday during a ceremony to welcome defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Labour Party, and other political groups into the ADC, the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, said the party has plans for the women and the youths.
He spoke under the theme “When Good People Unite, Nigerians Win”.
Aregbesola, a former Osun State governor and ex-Minister of Interior, described ADC as a youth-driven party committed to offering Nigerians a credible alternative.
He explained that the party’s constitution explicitly guarantees 35 per cent representation for women and another 35 per cent for youths, ensuring that their combined presence in leadership structures will never fall below 50 per cent.
“This is not tokenism but a recognition that Nigeria’s future lies in giving voice, space, and power to those who have long been underrepresented,” he said.
The party chieftain emphasised that the ADC is not controlled by an individual but by a collective of patriotic citizens determined to rebuild Nigeria.
He criticised the hardship and uncertainty confronting the nation, warning that any government that fails to prioritise citizens’ welfare risks losing legitimacy.
“Our mission is to build a nation that future generations will be proud to inherit. Leadership must meet the basic needs of the people or it will collapse with time,” Aregbesola said.
He urged members to strengthen the ADC’s grassroots base rather than waste energy attacking political rivals. According to him, both the APC and the PDP have lost direction and reduced themselves to power-seeking platforms.
“We must not repeat the mistakes of APC and PDP. Let us build a people-oriented party from scratch,” he declared.
Earlier, Abimbola Ogunkelu, a PDP Board of Trustees member, who led a delegation of defectors, said their move to the ADC marked the beginning of a new era of progressive politics.
He noted that the coalition was determined to mobilise grassroots participation and provide Nigerians with trustworthy leadership.
Segun Osho, who led defectors from the Labour Party, also said their defection was motivated by the urgent need to rescue Nigeria from its current challenges.
Among the notable defectors were former Lagos PDP chairmen Muritala Ashorobi and Tunji Shelle; PDP Vice Chairman (Lagos Central), Tai Benedict; Niyi Adams; and a former PDP youth leader.
