The National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has affirmed that the party owes its existence not to any individual or the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but to the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of association.

Aregbesola, who read the Secretariat report at the 8th ADC National Convention held yesterday in Abuja, said the party derives its legitimacy from the aspirations and will of Nigerians who are tired of deceit and what he described as colossal mismanagement of the country.

He declared that the ADC is an unstoppable force that cannot be prevented from rising.

On INEC’s absence at the convention, the party accused the commission of dereliction of duty, noting that the law empowers INEC to monitor party conventions and related activities.

“As a party, we have fulfilled our obligations. It is now the responsibility of INEC to attend and monitor our convention,” the report stated.

The ADC maintained that it has not been proscribed by any law or court order and therefore retains the right to carry out its lawful activities.

It further alleged that INEC’s actions suggest a partisan stance aimed at de- legitimising the party’s activities. They called on the international community to take interest in what it described as emerging anti-democratic tendencies involving the ruling party and INEC.

According to the report, the party is on a rescue mission to save Nigeria from what it termed the “strangulating grip” of the ruling party, stressing that the country is worth all necessary sacrifices and that kakistocracy must not be allowed to thrive.

The party also faulted the Federal Government’s claim that the recent appreciation of the naira reflects sound economic management. It argued that the exchange rate, which stood at about N700 to the dollar when the current administration assumed office in 2023, has worsened to about N1,400.

“This amounts to a 100 per cent devaluation. In an import-dependent economy, this is devastating,” the report stated.

It further noted that the price of petrol, which ranged between N185 and N238 per litre before the current administration, has risen to about N1,400 per litre, making transportation costs prohibitive for many workers.

On power supply, the party said the situation has deteriorated, with some parts of the country receiving an average of two hours of electricity daily, while others experience prolonged outages lasting weeks or months.

The report added that despite earlier promises by the administration to improve electricity supply or forfeit re-election bids, the situation has worsened.

“Ordinarily, having made such a promise and failed, an honest president should step down and not seek re-election,” the report said.

It accused the current leadership of making desperate attempts to retain power at all costs, warning that such actions could undermine the country’s democratic system.

The ADC also raised concerns about the rising number of out-of-school children, stating that the figure has increased from 18.3 million to about 20 million. It added that approximately 130 million Nigerians are now multidimensionally poor.

Describing the country as being in dire straits, the party called on Nigerians to join its “rescue mission,” urging citizens to take decisive action.

“Our party has, within nine months of its unveiling on July 2, 2025, transformed into a major opposition force and a source of hope for Nigerians,” the report added.

It stated that the party has spent the past months consolidating its structures nationwide in preparation for the 2027 general elections.

It expressed confidence that such actions would ultimately fail, stating that Nigerians would reclaim their country.