African Democratic Congress has announced the establishment of a Special Representatives Network in key foreign capitals.
According to the ADC, the initiative is aimed at strengthening its international engagement and promoting democratic accountability in Nigeria.
The coalition party, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the network would create structured channels of communication between the ADC and influential international stakeholders, particularly in countries and institutions that prioritised democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
ADC announced this development amid an ongoing leadership dispute within the party, which began in July 2025 after former National Chairman Ralph Okey Nwosu resigned, paving the way for a new National Working Committee led by former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as new leaders.
Following their emargence, a former Deputy National Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe, challenged the transition in court, and in March 2026 the Court of Appeal ordered all factions to maintain the pre-litigation status quo pending a final ruling.
The crisis deepened on April 1 and 2 when INEC suspended recognition of all contending factions and removed the Mark-led NWC’s details from its official portal.
INEC cited the Court of Appeal’s order directing parties to preserve the pre-litigation status quo.
It was against this backdrop that the ADC said the initiative was triggered by what it described as a growing pattern of undemocratic practices and attacks on opposition members and leaders that had persisted since July 2025, including attempts to destabilise opposition parties, undermine legitimate party leadership structures, and restrict democratic political participation.
ADC said under the scheme it would appoint credible representatives as envoys in strategically selected global capitals, who would serve as official points of contact between the party and international actors, including foreign governments, parliamentary committees, international media organisations, democracy support institutions, and Nigerian diaspora communities.
The party said, “Through these engagements, the representatives will provide regular briefings on key issues relating to Nigeria’s political environment, including political developments in the country, human rights concerns, democratic governance, electoral integrity, and allegations of repression against opposition actors.
“They will also communicate the ADC’s policy positions and reform proposals to international stakeholders.”
ADC said the primary objective of the initiative was to ensure that international partners and democratic institutions received balanced and credible information about Nigeria’s political environment, rather than relying solely on official government narratives.
It added, “By institutionalising these channels of engagement, the party seeks to strengthen its credibility as a responsible democratic actor while also reinforcing its position as a viable governing alternative committed to democratic norms and constitutional governance.”
Based on their global influence, commitment to democratic governance, and the presence of significant Nigerian diaspora communities, the ADC said it had identified Washington DC, London, Brussels, Berlin, Ottawa, Paris, Pretoria, Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Accra, Geneva, and New York for its international strategic engagements.
The statement added, “The ADC stated that by institutionalising these channels of engagement, the party seeks to strengthen its credibility as a responsible democratic actor while also reinforcing its position as a viable governing alternative committed to democratic norms and constitutional governance.
“Based on their global influence, commitment to democratic governance, and the presence of significant Nigerian diaspora communities, the party has identified Washington, DC; London; Brussels; Berlin; Ottawa; Paris; Pretoria; Addis Ababa; Nairobi; Accra; Geneva; and New York for its international strategic engagements.
“As part of the initiative, the party will also establish a National Documentation Initiative, to systematically collect and document incidents affecting political participation across Nigeria. Under this system, state party structures will gather information on incidents including threats, harassment, violent attacks, arbitrary arrests, and disruptions of political activities.”
The ADC said the initiative represented a strategic step toward strengthening its international presence, improving the flow of credible information about political developments in Nigeria, and reinforcing its commitment to democratic governance, political accountability, and the protection of opposition rights.
