A faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) loyal to Nafiu Gombe has published detailed guidelines and a timetable for ward, local government, state and national congresses for the 2025/2026 political year. The move, set out in a circular signed by Gombe, aims to strengthen internal democracy and prepare the party for upcoming elections.
ADC congress guidelines: timetable and process
The circular begins with a Board of Trustees meeting on 5 January, followed by a National Executive Committee meeting on 7 January. Key agenda items for the NEC include filling vacant posts in the National Working Committee, fixing dates for membership registration and revalidation, and advancing preparations for congresses at all levels.
Membership registration and revalidation will take place from 2 to 15 January. Ward executive committee congresses are scheduled for 17 January, with subsequent matters arising to be addressed between 19 and 22 January. Local government congresses will be held on 24 January and state executive committee congresses on 31 January 2026. The National Working Committee convention is planned for 13 to 15 February 2026.
The guidelines stipulate that only validly registered or revalidated members whose names appear in the official membership register will be eligible to participate in the congresses, in accordance with the ADC constitution. State chapters were directed to notify the National Secretariat of their congress dates, venues and times to enable proper communication with the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Guardrails and zoning
To ensure the integrity of the process, the party has ordered states to establish Congress Planning Committees and made clear that those committees must exclude individuals who are contesting any state executive office. Candidates intending to run for state offices are required to register their intentions with the State Congress Committee and pay an intention fee of N2,000 to help finance the congresses.
Gombe also emphasised that state executive committee composition should, where practicable, reflect senatorial zones in line with the party’s constitutional provisions. The State Executive Committee will oversee the Congress Planning Committee to ensure strict adherence to the guidelines.
Context and implications
The circular was issued a day after the faction disavowed reports that former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi had defected and registered at the ADC’s Enugu zonal office. The faction described itself as the authentic national leadership and said the reported registration violated the party constitution and established membership procedures.
By publishing the ADC congress guidelines and a clear timetable, Gombe’s faction seeks to assert organisational control and present a unified process for membership and leadership selection. The steps outlined aim to limit disputes over legitimacy, improve transparency in candidate selection and position the party to contest future elections with a clearer internal structure.
State chapters will be expected to comply with the timetable and procedural rules, and the national secretariat will co-ordinate with INEC to ensure that congresses run in line with electoral regulations. The planned sequence of meetings and conventions indicates a tightly managed approach to party renewal as the 2026 political year approaches.
Key Takeaways:
- ADC congress guidelines set out a clear timetable for membership revalidation and ward-to-national congresses.
- Only validly registered members will participate, with revalidation scheduled for 2–15 January.
- State committees must exclude contesting candidates from planning roles and observe zoning by senatorial zones.
- National convention and National Working Committee elections are slated for February 2026 to reposition the party ahead of future polls.
