The African Democratic Congress, ADC, led by Nafiu Bala Gombe, has released a comprehensive timetable and guidelines for the conduct of its congresses and national convention for the 2025/2026 political year, as part of efforts to strengthen internal democracy and reposition the party ahead of future elections.

The guidelines are contained in a National Secretariat Circular dated December 30, 2025, and signed by the party’s National Chairman, Gombe.

According to the circular, the party’s activities will commence with a Board of Trustees, BoT, meeting scheduled for January 5, 2025, followed by a National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting on January 7, 2025.

Key agenda items at the NEC meeting include the filling of vacancies in the National Working Committee, NWC, the fixing of dates for membership registration and revalidation, and preparations for ward, local government and state congresses.

He said, “For 2026, the ADC announced that membership registration and revalidation will take place from January 2 to January 15. This will be followed by ward executive committee congresses on January 17, with matters arising to be addressed between January 19 and 22.

“Local government congresses are scheduled for January 24, while state executive committee congresses will be held on January 31, 2026. Matters Arising: February 2-5, 2026 National-Level Activities.

“National Working Committee Convention: d. The approved delegates to the State Congresses, as provided for in Article 24 (a) – (e) and specifically modified by a resolution of the NWC at its 17th December, 2026 in National
headquarters Abuja are as follows: Local Government Chairmen

“LGA Secretaries; Youth Leader; Women Leader; State Executive Committee members and National Executive Committee (NEC) members from the State; PWD Leader; Ex-Officio Member; All Elected Council Chairman and their Deputies; Board of Trustees Member; Zonal National Officer; Any Elected National / State Assembly Members; Legal Adviser.

“States shall constitute Congress Planning Committees, membership of which shall not include persons contesting for any of the state executive offices.

“All persons willing to contest for state offices shall register their intentions with the State Congress Committee with an intention Fees N2,000.00 (Two Thousand Naira Only) which the Congress Committee may utilize for the purpose of financing the congresses, in part.

“The State Executive Committee shall supervise the work of the Congress Planning Committee to ensure strict compliance with the guidelines on State Congresses.

“Approved composition and distribution of the State Executive Committee members should, as much as practicable, be carried out according to the Senatorial Zones and in compliance with the Party’s Constitutional provision (Article 5, 17):

“Senatorial Zone with the highest number of members (6 positions). Chairman; Asst. Secretary; Asst. Financial Secretary; Auditor; Organizing Secretary; Women Leader; Senatorial Zone with 2nd highest number of members (5 positions); Vice Chairman, Treasurer, Legal Adviser, Asst. Publicity Secretary, Asst.”

On zoning, the ADC disclosed that distribution of state executive committee positions should, as much as practicable, reflect senatorial zones and comply with the party’s constitutional provisions.

The party’s National Working Committee convention is slated for February 13 to 15, 2026.

The party emphasised that only validly registered or revalidated members whose names appear in the official membership register will be eligible to participate in the congresses, in line with provisions of the ADC constitution.

State chapters were also directed to formally notify the National Secretariat of the dates, venues and times of their congresses to enable proper communication with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He said: “The criteria for qualification to contest for executive positions in the State Executive Committee are as follows: At least, attendance of Secondary School; The Offices of State Legal Adviser, Treasurer and Financial Secretary should have experiences in their respective professions; else the offices should be occupied by persons best deemed suitable.

“The Office of the State Youth Leader must NOT be more than 25 years while that of the State Woman Leader is exclusively reserved for Women.

“All pre-congress appeals shall be determined not later than 24 hours before the congresses while all appeals consequent upon the congresses shall be determined within 3 days after the congresses.

“The Congress Planning Committee shall submit reports of congresses to the National Secretariat via [email protected] not later than 5 working days after the congresses.”

The party urged members and state chapters to strictly adhere to the guidelines to ensure transparent, credible and orderly