The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has unveiled plans to appoint envoys in 12 major foreign cities as part of a broader effort to draw international attention to what it describes as a growing pattern of undemocratic practices and attacks on opposition figures in Nigeria.
The initiative follows the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) decision to derecognise both the David Mark-led leadership of the party and the Nafiu Bala faction.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, INEC’s Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Mohammed Haruna, said the commission would refrain from engaging with either faction, citing a March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal.
The commission added that it would not participate in any meetings, congresses, or conventions organised by the factions pending the outcome of a case before the Federal High Court.
The move has sparked outrage within the party, with the Mark-led faction calling for the immediate removal of INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, accusing the commission of bias and misinterpreting the court ruling in a manner that undermines public confidence.
Announcing the diplomatic outreach on Saturday, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the party is establishing a Special Representatives Network (SRN) in key global capitals to deepen international engagement and promote democratic accountability.
He alleged that since July 2025, there have been sustained efforts “to destabilise opposition parties, weaken legitimate leadership structures, and restrict democratic political participation” in Nigeria.
According to Abdullahi, the SRN will serve as a structured channel of communication between the ADC and the international community. Under the initiative, credible representatives will be appointed as envoys in selected cities to engage foreign governments, legislative institutions, international media, and diaspora groups.
He said the envoys would brief their host countries on Nigeria’s political climate, including governance issues, human rights concerns, electoral integrity, and what the party described as repression of opposition actors. They will also communicate the ADC’s policy positions and reform agenda.
Abdullahi noted that the move is aimed at strengthening the party’s credibility as “a responsible democratic actor” and positioning it as a viable alternative for governance.
The cities identified for the initiative include Washington, D.C., London, Brussels, Berlin, Ottawa, Paris, Pretoria, Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Accra, Geneva, and New York.
As part of its broader strategy, the party also plans to launch a national documentation initiative to monitor and record incidents affecting political participation across the country.
“State party structures will compile reports on incidents such as threats, harassment, violent attacks, arbitrary arrests, and disruptions of political activities,” Abdullahi said.
