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The African Democratic Congress, ADC, says June 12 remains one of the most significant dates in Nigeria’s political history and democratic journey.
In a Democracy Day statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said June 12 symbolised Nigerians’ enduring democratic aspirations.
He said the date reflected the belief that citizens’ voices matter, their votes count and governments derive legitimacy from the people.
“June 12 remains one of the most important dates in our nation’s political history and a reminder that government derives legitimacy from the governed,” he said.
Abdullahi, however, said Democracy Day should not only be a time to celebrate past struggles but also an opportunity to assess the country’s democratic progress.
According to him, democracy should be measured not by the number of years under civilian rule but by improvements in citizens’ welfare, freedoms and opportunities.
The ADC spokesman said persistent insecurity, economic hardship and declining public confidence in institutions continued to pose challenges to Nigeria’s democratic development.
He noted that rising costs of food, transportation, healthcare, housing and education had placed immense pressure on households and businesses.
“Our young people should be driving national growth and renewal, but many are struggling to find opportunities and hope within the country,” he said.
He added that the party rejected the notion that insecurity, poverty and economic hardship were inevitable, insisting that effective governance could reverse the trend.
“We believe security must be intelligence-led, technology-enabled, community-informed and locally responsive if Nigeria is to achieve lasting peace,” he stated.
Abdullahi said the ADC’s vision prioritised economic reforms aimed at reducing the cost of living, supporting businesses and improving the standard of living of Nigerians.
He added that the party would promote transparency, accountability, food security and institutional reforms to restore public confidence in democratic governance.
“We believe government must once again be judged by results, not speeches, excuses or headlines, but by the wellbeing of Nigerians,” he said.
The party congratulated Nigerians on Democracy Day and urged citizens to remain committed to building a more secure, prosperous and accountable democratic society.
The New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, has alleged that its former presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is still meddling in the party’s affairs despite his exit.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ogini Olaposi, made the allegation in a statement on Tuesday.
Olaposi said Kwankwaso has continued to wield influence within the party through loyalists allegedly left behind after his departure.
“Kwankwaso is not only trying to hijack political power in NDC Kano, he has continued to drag the NNPP for reasons best known to him.
“Some members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement are the ones he left behind to continue the litigation that Kwankwaso initiated,” the party said.
According to the party, Kwankwaso’s political influence in Kano has diminished significantly, alleging that many of his key allies have defected to the APC.
“NDC should be smart and intelligent enough to understand that Kwankwaso’s structure was in the past organic in Kano State, but at the moment all his commanding officers have joined the APC,” the statement added.
The National Executive Committee, NEC of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, has further reached resolutions on running of the party’s activities.
In a statement signed by Osa Director, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, the NDC said that its second NEC resolutions are meant to take the party towards NDC towards institutionalization
The NDC said it is committed to building the party as a strong and enduring institution, with emphasis on party supremacy, adding that programs, policies, and appointments “(except personal staff) of all governments elected on the platform of the party must be made in consultation with the party structure.”
