SPEECH BY THE NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF THE AFRICAN DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS (ADC), HIS EXCELLENCY, SENATOR (DR.) DAVID ALECHENU BONAVENTURE MARK, GCON, AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE AFRICAN DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN COUNCIL (PCC) ON FRIDAY OCTOBER 9, 2026

Protocol:

The Presidential Candidate of our great party, His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, GCON;

Our Vice-Presidential Candidate, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, CON;

The Chairman of the ADC-PCC, His Excellency, Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim-Imam;

The Deputy Chairman, His Excellency, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai;

The Director-General and Campaign Manager, Distinguished Senator Austin Akobundu;

Members of the National Working Committee and our Presidential Campaign Council;

Our leaders, elders, candidates and elected representatives;

Women and youth leaders;

Members of the African Democratic Congress;

Our coalition partners, friends and members of the press;

Ladies and gentlemen.

I welcome you all to this very important occasion.

Today, we formally activate the machinery for the 2027 campaign of the African Democratic Congress. Let me make one thing clear from the outset:

This is a council for dedicated hard-work.

You have been appointed to serve, mobilize and to deliver.

The responsibility before us is enormous. Nigeria is at a critical crossroads, and Nigerians are looking for leadership that understands their pain and respects their dignity. They are not looking for leaders who think they are infallible.

Our task is therefore bigger than winning an election. Our task is to present Nigerians with a credible alternative and give them the reason to believe and trust that the essence of governance is to protect them and make their lives better.

LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED

My charge to our PCC is simple:

Leave no stone unturned. Leave no legitimate question unanswered. And leave no Nigerian behind.

Go to every state, every local government, every ward and every community.

Engage our traditional rulers, religious leaders, women, youths, workers, farmers, professionals, traders, artisans, students and persons living with disabilities. Listen to all Nigerians.

Do not take any community for granted. Earn the confidence of the people.

Let nobody say that the ADC did not come to them.

Let nobody say that we did not listen.

Let nobody say that we left them behind.

THIS MUST BE A CAMPAIGN OF ISSUES

Our campaign must be about the issues that matter to Nigerians. High cost of living, poverty, the economy, security, jobs, food, education, healthcare, infrastructure, inflation, good governance, the rule of law and the future of our young people.

Nigerians already know their problems. We do not need to lecture them about their sufferings.

We must listen to them and tell them clearly how we intend to solve the problems.

A TICKET FOR ALL NIGERIANS

The ADC’s Atiku Abubakar-Rotimi Amaechi ticket represents experience, capacity and national reach.

But beyond these individuals, the greater project is Nigeria.

We will speak to every region, every faith and every ethnic nationality.

We will build bridges, and not walls. We shall disagree without hatred. We shall compete without violence. We shall campaign vigorously without destroying the bonds that hold Nigerians together.

TO THE CANDIDATES

To our Presidential and Vice-Presidential Candidates, I urge you to continue to present yourselves as candidates for the whole country.

Speak with respect. Listen with humility. Campaign with courage. And let your message be defined by competence, experience, integrity, inclusion and national unity.

In the course of your campaign, you could be physically attacked. When this happens, respond with a friendly HANDSHAKE. You could be insulted. When this happens, respond with a smile.

PROTECT THE ELECTORAL PROCESS

As we approach 2027, the ADC will remain firmly committed to the integrity of the electoral process.

We expect INEC and all institutions responsible for the elections to be impartial, transparent and professional.

Every eligible Nigerian must be able to vote freely, safely and without intimidation.

We will reject violence, hate speech and politics of revenge.

We will compete fiercely within the ambits of the law.

A CALL TO DUTY

You have been called to serve. Serve with courage, discipline, humility and patriotism.

Distinguished members of the PCC, history has placed this responsibility on you.

Do not underestimate this assignment.

The road ahead will demand sacrifice, organization, resources, patience, honesty, and resilience

I congratulate all members of the ADC-PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN COUNCIL.

It is now my honour and privilege to formally inaugurate the council. I so do.

May God bless the African Democratic Congress.

May God bless our candidates.

And may God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Thank you, and God bless you all.