Lagos, Nigeria — The African Democratic Congress, a prominent opposition political party in Nigeria, has announced the creation of a Special Representatives Network in major cities around the world. This move is designed to improve the international connections of the party and encourage democratic accountability within the West African nation. Okay News reports that the announcement was made in a public statement issued on Saturday, April 4, 2026, by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Bolaji Abdullahi.
The political party plans to set up structured communication channels with international stakeholders in countries that value human rights, the rule of law, and democracy. This international expansion occurs during a severe leadership dispute inside the African Democratic Congress. The internal conflict started in July 2025 when the former National Chairman, Ralph Okey Nwosu, resigned from his position. His departure led to the creation of a new National Working Committee headed by David Mark, a former President of the Nigerian Senate, alongside Rauf Aregbesola, a former governor of Osun State in southwestern Nigeria.
However, Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, took the matter to court to challenge the leadership change. In March 2026, the Nigerian Court of Appeal instructed all involved groups to maintain the status quo that existed before the legal battle began until a final judgment is delivered. The crisis worsened on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, and Thursday, April 2, 2026, when the Independent National Electoral Commission, the body responsible for overseeing elections in Nigeria, stopped recognising all competing factions. The electoral commission removed the details of the leadership team led by David Mark from its official online portal, citing the directive from the Court of Appeal.
In response to these events, the African Democratic Congress stated that its new international initiative was a reaction to a rising trend of undemocratic actions and attacks on opposition leaders that began in July 2025. The party noted that these actions include efforts to disrupt opposition parties and limit political participation. The party will appoint representatives in important global cities to act as direct contacts between the African Democratic Congress and foreign governments, international media, and Nigerian communities living abroad. The selected cities include Washington, London, Brussels, Berlin, Ottawa, Paris, Pretoria, Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Accra, Geneva, and New York.
To support this effort, the party is also launching a National Documentation Initiative. This programme will gather evidence of incidents that affect political activities in Nigeria, such as harassment, arbitrary arrests, and violent attacks. By sharing this documented information globally, the party hopes to provide a balanced alternative to official government reports. As the statement noted: “Through these engagements, the representatives will provide regular briefings on key issues relating to Nigeria’s political environment, including political developments in the country, human rights concerns, democratic governance, electoral integrity, and allegations of repression against opposition actors. They will also communicate the ADC’s policy positions and reform proposals to international stakeholders.”
