Mark: Failure Isn’t an Option in 2027, We Must Compete and Win General Election

•Vows to change outdated pattern of political class serving themselves, pledges to defend separation of powers

•Atiku says only full deployment of technology in election reforms can ensure credible polls

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

National Chairman of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, said failure was not an option in the 2027 general election, adding that the opposition party would compete to win.

While vowing to change what he described as an outdated pattern, where the political class often served itself, he added that ADC would defend the separation of powers and strengthen oversight so that budgets would serve the public interest, not private appetites.

The comments came as  former Vice President and chieftain of ADC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, called for deployment of a  technology-based election as panacea for election fraud in Nigeria.

Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, Mark disclosed that the mission of ADC was not only to attain power in 2027, but also to leave a legacy which the future generations would be proud to inherit.

In his welcome remarks, Mark said, “Our mission is not only to attain power in 2027; it is to leave a legacy which the future generations will be proud to inherit. We are in a marathon we must compete and win. Failure is not an option.

“I am alarmed by attempts – subtle and crude – to bend the legislature and judiciary to the will of the executive. The ADC will defend the separation of powers, restore legislative and judicial independence, and strengthen oversight so that budgets serve the public interest, not private appetites.

“We will end the culture of parallel budgets and extra-budgetary manoeuvres by enforcing strict and transparent planning, timely appropriations, and rigorous auditing.”

Mark stressed, “The judiciary must again be a refuge for every citizen. We will back an independent, efficient, and trusted bench-appointments on merit, transparent case management, time-bound rulings, and a bias for justice over empty technicalities.

“Nigeria and Nigerians will accept nothing less. The political class has too often served itself. We must change this outdated pattern. We must model a new attitude to leadership across every sphere-public, private, and civic.

“Let it be said of the ADC that we kept faith with the people, that we were steady under pressure, honest in our dealings, and relentless in delivery. We do not seek power for its own sake; we seek it to build a legacy worthy of our children.”

Mark acknowledged that the road to victory would be difficult, and demanded serious sacrifice, saying, “The road will be uphill. Sacrifice will be demanded. Those threatened by democracy will resist it. Still, we advance-calmly, courageously, together as a formidable team.”

ADC boasted that Nigeria could, and would, work for everyone – and with a commitment to build a party bigger than any personality, stronger than any moment and positively different from any party in the annals of our country.

Mark stated, “The conveners of this mission are respected leaders from every corner of our nation who have freely chosen service over comfort. We have set aside narrow interests for the common good.

“The road will be uphill. Sacrifice will be demanded. Those threatened by democracy will resist it. Still, we advance calmly, courageously, together aa a formidable team.

“What makes the ADC different is simple: We will be a party of purpose and determination, not impulses; an institution that champions democratic values and a culture of accountability and responsibility across its organs and in every government it forms.

“Our leadership standard is non-negotiable: Character. Competence. Courage. Discipline. These four pillars will guide our choices, shape our culture, and anchor our performance.

“We are a Pan-African, people-oriented, problem-solving movement-sensitive to the needs of the poor and the young, women and men, persons with disabilities, workers, peasants, entrepreneurs, retirees, civil society, and the vulnerable. We will convert empathy into policy, and policy results.

“To do this, we will build a party that outlives us all. Other parties revolve around individuals; the ADC will revolve around rules, policies, programmes, people, and results. We will insist on team spirit, collaboration, and internal democracy.

“The supremacy we seek is the supremacy of our constitution and institutions-over everything: personality, improvisation, and idiosyncrasy.”

Speaking on what the party would do if it emerged victorious, the ADC chair said, “Nigerians are tired of slogans and statistics that do not translate into their welfare: food, power, jobs, and safety. We will focus on what works.

“We will pursue price stability and productivity through credible, rules-based coordination of fiscal and monetary policy. We will deliver reliable power supply by expanding power generation, fixing transmission bottlenecks, and rewarding distribution performance.”

He said, “We will secure our food supply by supporting farmers and agricultural value chains from inputs and storage to processing and markets. We will back small businesses and industry with affordable, performance-tied credit and local content that creates jobs, not rent.

“And we will shine a bright light on every naira-no parallel budgets, no black-box spending, no sacred cows. Judge us by what Nigerians feel in their daily lives, rhetoric and bland statistics: lower volatility, more reliable power, visible projects, and decent work.

“Our foreign policy will be Pan-African-rooted in regional integration and international peace. We will champion trade within Africa, harmonize standards that open markets for Nigerian goods and services, leverage diaspora capital, and build coalitions that keep our sub-region stable and prosperous. This National Working Committee has urgent tasks.”

Mark promised, “We must review our constitution to reflect the new order, develop a code of ethics, financing rules, and compliance systems. We must establish functional ward, local government, and state structures with trained organizers, digital registers, and service desks.

“We will build a leadership pipeline through a merit-based academy-policy, ethics, communications, and delivery. We will receive reports from the Secretariat and zones and prepare for regular and off-cycle elections well in advance. And we will field only credible and viable candidates who meet the 4-pillar standard-Character, Competence, Courage, and Discipline.”

Atiku: Full Technology Deployment in Election Reforms is Way to Credible Polls

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar called for deployment of a technology-based election as a panacea for credible election in Nigeria

Atiku spoke when he received a delegation of young Nigerians led by Pastor Ukpola O. Chinedu from the Nigeria Electoral Reform Coalition (NERCO).

In a statement, the ADC stalwart said, ‘’I could relate to the urgency in their demands that the National Assembly amend the current electoral act to make electronic transmission of results from polling units mandatory.

‘’They are deeply worried that the current Act, which left the mode of transmission of results at the discretion of INEC, negatively impacted the 2023 general election.

‘’They informed me that the group is not only pressuring the National Assembly on mandatory electronic transmission of results but also on taking the powers of appointing INEC officials from the president, vesting it on a transparent recruitment process by citizens.

‘’These efforts, they said, are aimed at demanding that every vote counts in our elections. I agree with the group that demanding transparent and credible elections is the way to go.

‘’I am also of the firm belief that the full deployment of technology in Nigeria’s election process has become necessary and supports the call on the National Assembly to act with urgency as 2027 approaches.

‘’I reiterated that both local and international organisations that are worried about the conduct of elections in our country must sustain the pressure on the National Assembly until the needed electoral reforms are achieved.’’