No Retreat, No Surrender! ADC defies INEC, vows to go ahead with congresses, convention

Despite warnings from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has vowed to go ahead with its nationwide congresses and national convention this month.
It has announced a detailed timetable for the exercise.
According to a statement by the party, the process will begin with the screening of aspirants on April 7, followed by congresses at polling unit, ward, local government and state levels, culminating in a national convention scheduled for April 14 in Abuja.
The congresses are expected to produce new leadership across all tiers of the party, alongside a review of its constitution and broader efforts to reposition the ADC ahead of future electoral contests, particularly the 2027 general elections.
The timetable had earlier received approval from the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

Under the approved schedule, aspirants will be screened on April 7, with appeals slated for the following day.
Polling unit, ward, and local government congresses are fixed for April 9, with appeals on April 10, although some internal communications suggest parts of the process may begin earlier.
State congresses will follow on April 11, with appeals on April 12, before the national convention on April 14.
But, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has warned the party that any exercise conducted outside regulatory compliance would be declared null and void.
To Amupitan, because of pending court cases and concerns over the legitimacy of ADC’s current leadership, if the party goes ahead with the “unsanctioned” congresses,
candidates emerging from such exercises could be legally disqualified, citing Zamfara State where flawed party processes led to sweeping legal reversals.
But, ADC would have none of that. It insisted: “This is to notify all party members that despite INEC’s illegal actions, the ADC will continue with its congresses as scheduled”.