• Pledges to end opaque ‘security votes’, looting of public funds
• ‘Persuading Obi, Atiku to work together difficult’

In a historic bold move, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has launched a comprehensive governance principles and code of ethics for elected persons on its platform, party officials and members encapsulated in what they called ‘the orange book.’

The 25-page document speaks to governance principles of the party, core values, political and governance principles of ADC, economic principles, the burden of completion principle, code of ethics, leaders’ personal oath and pledge, as well as execution of oath.

Addressing journalists at the official unveiling of the orange book in Abuja yesterday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the document was the first of its kind since the advent of democracy in 1999 and will be binding on all members irrespective of their status and office, from the least to the office of President.

He explained that the document became operational and binding on the three Presidential aspirants before the emergence of Atiku Abubakar, and each of them signed up to it.

Abdullahi said: “When the coalition movement started, there was one fundamental realisation, which is why we are here. Why are we in this coalition? Why are we trying to build a political party? The answer was very clear.

“The answer was that Nigeria is the best we are in today because of the kind of politics we are playing. And if we have to solve the problem that Nigeria is facing, we have to play a different kind of politics. That is why all the leaders of the coalition agreed that we must play a different kind of politics, because politics and politicians in Nigeria have become widely discredited.”

THE ADC has vowed to abolish opaque “security votes”, slash the cost of governance, and clamp down on the misuse and looting of public resources if elected to power in 2027.

The party also promised to build a job-led and opportunity-driven economy anchored on shared prosperity, while eliminating monopoly and cronyism, strengthening institutions, and expanding access to economic opportunities for Nigerians.

According to the party, its economic agenda will focus on eliminating poverty, reducing hardship, and deploying the country’s resources to improve living standards. The ADC said it would promote private enterprise and fair competition, guarantee equal opportunities, and dismantle all forms of monopoly and cronyism.

It also pledged to align the education system with its economic and technological development goals, arguing that education must directly support national productivity and economic transformation.

“The ADC shall promote private enterprise while ensuring fair competition. The party shall eliminate all forms of monopoly and cronyism and guarantee equal opportunities for all. The ADC shall pursue a job-led opportunity-driven economy founded on shared prosperity where economic growth is inclusive, productive and designed to expand access to wealth, opportunity and economic power across society.

“The ADC will ensure that the education system is directly aligned with the party’s vision for economic development and technological advancement,” the party wrote on page 9 of the book.

On political and governance reforms, the ADC said it would ensure that democracy delivers tangible progress and improves the wellbeing of Nigerians.

MEANWHILE, the leader of the G100  political pressure group, Salihu Lukman, has admitted that persuading leading opposition presidential figures, including Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, to form a united alliance ahead of the 2027 general election is an exceptionally difficult task.

Lukman, a chieftain of the ADC, made the admission on Arise Television’s Morning Show yesterday while discussing the challenges and ongoing efforts of the coalition.

He said the primary bottleneck was that every major opposition frontman desired to be the sole presidential candidate, backed heavily by dedicated sets of loyal supporters.

“The point you raised is really a very serious issue, and all that we keep saying is that each one of them wants to be president of Nigeria, but only one of them can be president,” Lukman said.

He acknowledged that managing the competing ambitions and loyalties within the opposition was “a very difficult task,” but said the G100 was urging the candidates and their supporters to prioritise the broader objective of defeating the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to him, allowing the opposition candidates to contest separately could repeat the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.