THUR APRIL 02 2026-theGBJournal| Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark, has delivered a scathing assessment of Nigeria’s democratic trajectory, warning that the core freedoms sustaining the system are under threat.
Speaking at a press conference today following the delisting of the Party’s leadership by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mark argued that the past three years under President Bola Tinubu have exposed a troubling erosion of citizens’ rights to choose, participate, and associate—pillars he described as essential to the survival of any democracy.
He maintained that these freedoms have faced “relentless assault,” alleging a deliberate political agenda to narrow electoral choices ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to Mark, the objective is to engineer a scenario in which President Tinubu emerges as the sole viable option, despite growing public discontent driven by economic hardship and insecurity across the country.
Mark further linked Nigeria’s deepening poverty and deteriorating security landscape directly to what he described as policy failures of the current administration.
He asserted that the government is aware of rising public dissatisfaction and may resort to extreme measures to retain power, warning that such actions could further undermine democratic integrity and the will of the Nigerian people.
Full Text of his speech:
THIS ATTACK ON DEMOCRACY WILL NOT STAND
On behalf of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and lovers of democracy, I welcome you all to this world press conference.
Since 1999, Nigeria has been under democratic rule. After 27 years, we thought we could proudly celebrate the entrenchment of democracy, believing that the country’s dictatorial past has receded into history.
Our experience in the past three years or so since President Bola Tinubu came to power has however confirmed otherwise. Democracy is only sustained by the quality of freedom that it offers and guarantees, especially the freedom to choose, the freedom to participate, and the freedom to associate. These freedoms are so critical to democracy that without them, democracy dies.
Yet, in the past three years, we have witnessed a relentless assault on these very freedoms. The agenda is very clear, to create a situation where, in 2027, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu emerges as the only option left for the people, despite the widespread suffering and wanton killings going on across the country.
The twin challenge of deepening poverty, and worsening security situation in the country did not just happen.
They are direct consequences of the failure of this government. They know that Nigerians will not want this to continue. They know Nigerians will vote them out. This is why they would do anything to hang on to power by hook or crook.
Background to the Coalition
The coalition of opposition parties came about as a result of a collective search for democratic freedom and the desire to resist what was clearly a relentless assault on opposition political parties. The coalition leaders decided to come together under ADC to save multi-party democracy in Nigeria and rescue Nigeria from what was clearly an emerging dictatorship.
We did not come to the ADC by chance. We did our due diligence. We fulfilled all the party’s constitutional requirements, as well as all wider requirements under the laws that guide the management and operation of political parties.
In furtherance of this process, a NEC meeting was convened on July 29th, 2025, monitored by INEC officials. One of the conclusions of that NEC meeting was the dissolution of the National Working Committee of the party, and the ratification of a caretaker committee to take over the affairs of the party, with my humble self, David Mark, as the National Chairman; Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as the National Secretary; as well as others who have since been serving as officers of the party.
In addition to witnessing this process that brought in the new leadership of the party, a formal report of these resolutions was subsequently communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). On September 9th, 2025, INEC then uploaded the names of the relevant NWC members of the party, based on the NEC resolutions.
One of the officials in the dissolved NWC was Nafiu Bala, who was one of the Deputy National Chairmen of the party. It is on record that Gombe resigned this position on 17th May, 2025.
His resignation was also duly transmitted to INEC on the 12th of August, 2025. Regardless of his resignation, he decided to approach the courts on September 2nd, 2025, four clear months after his resignation, seeking to be recognised as the Chairman of the ADC.
What this means is that by the 2nd of September, when he approached the courts, INEC was already aware that Secretary Aregbesola and I had been inaugurated on the 29th of July in a process monitored by INEC.
INEC was also aware that Gombe had resigned his position before the said inauguration on the 29th of July.
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