The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has appointed envoys across 12 foreign cities in a fresh initiative to draw international attention to what it describes as a “growing pattern of undemocratic practices and attacks on opposition members” in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, announced the establishment of a Special Representatives Network (SRN) in key global capitals to deepen international engagement and promote democratic accountability.
He alleged that since July 2025, there have been sustained efforts “to destabilize opposition parties, undermine legitimate leadership structures, and restrict democratic political participation.”
Abdullahi explained that the SRN would create structured communication channels between the ADC and international stakeholders, including foreign governments, parliaments, global media organizations, and diaspora communities.
He added that the appointed envoys would serve as official points of contact in their respective locations, providing regular briefings on Nigeria’s political climate.
“The envoys will brief their host countries on Nigeria’s political environment, including governance, human rights concerns, electoral integrity, and alleged repression of opposition actors,” Abdullahi said, noting that they would also communicate the party’s policy positions and reform proposals.
According to the National Publicity Secretary, the initiative is aimed at positioning the ADC as “a responsible democratic actor” and a credible alternative within Nigeria’s political space.
The designated cities include Washington DC, London, Brussels, Berlin, Ottawa, Paris, Pretoria, Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Accra, Geneva, and New York.
As part of the initiative, the party also plans to launch a national documentation framework to monitor incidents affecting political participation nationwide.
Abdullahi said state party structures would compile reports on cases such as threats, harassment, violent attacks, arbitrary arrests, and disruptions of political activities.
The development follows a recent decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to derecognise factions of the party led by David Mark and Nafiu Bala, citing a 12 March Court of Appeal ruling.
INEC, in a statement signed by its Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Mohammed Haruna, said it would refrain from engaging either faction, including participation in meetings or conventions, pending the outcome of a case before the Federal High Court.
The decision has sparked internal reactions, with the Mark-led faction calling for the removal of INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, over what it described as a biased interpretation of the court ruling.
