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 trend of undemocratic practices and attacks on opposition figures in Nigeria.
The initiative comes on the heels of 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 by its Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Mohammed Haruna, INEC said it would refrain from engaging with either faction, citing a March 12 Court of Appeal judgment.
The commission added that it would not participate in any meetings, congresses, or conventions organised by the groups pending the outcome of a case before the Federal High Court.
The move has since sparked outrage within the party, with the Mark-led faction calling for the immediate removal of INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, accusing the commission of bias and misinterpreting the court ruling in a way that undermines public confidence.
Announcing the new 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 with foreign governments, legislative institutions, international media, and diaspora groups.
He explained that 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 the repression of opposition actors. They will also communicate the ADC’s policy positions and reform agenda.
Abdullahi said the move is designed to strengthen the party’s credibility as “a responsible democratic actor” and position it as a viable alternative for governance.
The cities identified for the initiative include Washington DC, London, Brussels, Berlin, Ottawa, Paris, Pretoria, Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Accra, Geneva, and New York.
As part of the 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.
