April 04, (THEWILL) — In a bold move amid its lingering internal crisis, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has unveiled a Special Representatives Network across key global capitals, signalling a strategic push to expand its international footprint and strengthen democratic accountability in Nigeria.
A statement issued on Saturday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the initiative would establish structured channels of communication between the ADC and influential international stakeholders, particularly in countries and institutions that prioritise democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
According to the party, the network is designed to position the ADC as a credible democratic actor on the global stage while ensuring that international partners receive balanced, timely, and reliable insights into Nigeria’s political environment.
The development comes amid a protracted leadership dispute within the party.
THEWILL reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on Wednesday, April 1, suspended recognition of all contending factions within the party and removed the David Mark-led National Working Committee’s details from its official portal, citing a March 2026 order of the Court of Appeal directing contending parties to maintain the pre-litigation status quo pending a final ruling on the matter.
The ADC said the new international initiative follows a growing pattern of undemocratic practices since mid-2025, including alleged attacks on opposition members, attempts to destabilise party structures, and restrictions on political participation.
Under the Special Representatives Network, the party said it would appoint credible envoys in strategically selected global capitals to serve as official points of contact between the ADC and international actors, including foreign governments, parliamentary committees, international media organisations, democracy support institutions, and Nigerian diaspora communities.
“These representatives will provide regular briefings on key issues relating to Nigeria’s political environment, including political developments, 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,” the statement said.
The party stressed that the primary objective of the initiative is to ensure that international partners and democratic institutions receive balanced and credible information about Nigeria’s political environment, rather than relying solely on official government narratives.
As part of its global engagement strategy, the ADC identified major international cities for the deployment of its representatives, including Washington, DC, London, Brussels, Berlin, Ottawa, Paris, Pretoria, Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Accra, Geneva, and New York.
In addition, the party disclosed plans to establish a National Documentation Initiative aimed at systematically collecting and documenting incidents affecting political participation across Nigeria.
Under the framework, state party structures will gather data on threats, harassment, violent attacks, arbitrary arrests, and disruptions of political activities.
The ADC maintained that the twin initiatives represent a strategic effort to strengthen its international presence, enhance transparency in political reporting, and reinforce its commitment to democratic governance, political accountability, and the protection of opposition rights.
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