By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
The Coalition Political Action Committee (COPAC) has called on the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to urgently convene a National Candidate Summit aimed at aligning the party’s candidates and campaign structures around its manifesto, policy agenda and strategic message ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The demand was contained in a communiqué signed by COPAC’s Director of Communications, Olu Onemola and issued in Saturday after its 2026 Democracy Day meeting.
According to COPAC, the summit should be convened by the National Working Committee of the ADC, led by Chairman David Mark, in collaboration with the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
The group said the ADC’s growing national profile and emergence as a major opposition platform make it imperative for all candidates, from the presidential level to governorship, National Assembly and state assembly contests, to project a unified vision for the country.
COPAC noted that the proposed summit would provide an opportunity for candidates to deepen their understanding of the party’s manifesto, strengthen message discipline, harmonise campaign strategies and present Nigerians with a clear and credible alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Electoral success requires message discipline, policy clarity and strategic coherence,” the communiqué stated, adding that Nigerians deserve a consistent articulation of the ADC’s solutions to the country’s challenges.
The committee warned that a fragmented campaign message could undermine the party’s prospects and urged the ADC leadership to ensure that all candidates operate within a unified strategic framework.
Beyond campaign coordination, COPAC identified reconciliation within the party as a critical priority ahead of the elections. It called on the ADC leadership to launch a comprehensive reconciliation process involving aggrieved aspirants, candidates, stakeholders and party leaders across the country.
According to the committee, no political party can effectively prosecute a national campaign while burdened by unresolved internal disputes.
The Democracy Day Convening was attended by the ADC presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who was represented by former House of Representatives member, Hon. Nnena Ukeje. Also present were the party’s governorship candidate in Kwara State, Zakari Mohammed, and the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.
Speakers at the event included Chairman of the Governing Council of Rise Up Nigeria (RUN), Salihu Tanko Yakassai; economic policy expert, Jude Feranmi; Zainab Buba Galadima, who presented an analysis of President Bola Tinubu’s Democracy Day address; and Demola Olarewaju, Senior Special Assistant on Political Matters to Atiku Abubakar.
COPAC also adopted resolutions aimed at strengthening the ADC’s visibility and participation in national discourse, expanding youth involvement in party activities, defending democratic freedoms and civil liberties, and mobilising Nigerians around what it described as a credible alternative to the APC-led Federal Government.
Speaking at the opening of the event, COPAC Convener, Engineer Aminu Datti Ahmad, said the committee remained committed to strengthening the ADC as a platform for democratic renewal and national transformation.
He stressed that the party must approach the 2027 elections with unity, discipline and policy clarity, adding that many Nigerians now view the ADC as more than an opposition party but as a credible vehicle for change.
