2027: ADC will rescue Nigeria – David Mark vows

The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, has reiterated that the party’s commitment to rescuing Nigeria is genuine and not political rhetoric.

Speaking at the presentation of the interim report of the party’s Policy and Manifesto Committee yesterday, Mark said the foundational philosophy of the ADC is anchored on the belief that Nigeria has a duty to provide leadership to Africa and the global black race. He added that the country can only fulfill this role by investing in the development and empowerment of its citizens.

Expressing satisfaction with the work of the Policy and Manifesto Committee, chaired by former Edo State Governor, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Mark said the report presents a framework of principles and policies designed to address the structural roots of the nation’s most pressing challenges.

“One persistent weakness in Nigeria’s economic reform history is that changes are often introduced abruptly, without proper sequencing or protection for the most vulnerable,” Mark said.

He added that the Committee has proposed gradual, sequenced reforms with social cushioning, ensuring that adjustments are implemented responsibly and humanely, protecting vulnerable populations from undue hardship.

Another key principle, according to Mark, is that survival income must not be taxed. “A nation where citizens are providing their own electricity, security, and other essentials cannot build prosperity by taxing those merely trying to survive,” he said. The Committee has also recommended a Social Protection Act to legally safeguard safety-net programs from political disruption, ensuring continuity across administrations.

On security, Mark highlighted systemic weaknesses, particularly in tackling kidnapping and banditry. “Arrests are often made, but justice is not delivered swiftly enough to serve as a deterrent,” he said. The Committee proposes that kidnapping and banditry be legally designated as terrorism, punishable under the harshest provisions of the law.

Mark stressed that the ADC manifesto is not just a political document but a guiding framework for all elected officials on the party’s platform. “We will not leave it to the discretion of any elected official to decide what to do with power,” he said.

He added, “By the 2027 elections, the ADC must present the Nigerian people with clarity, credible solutions, and a practical pathway to national renewal. This manifesto will serve as the grundnorm from which all our officials will derive their operating and governance principles.”