By Ismaeel Aleem
Youth groups and women within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Adamawa State have called for equitable representation in the party’s leadership structure, decrying the marginalisation of their voices.
The demand was made during a news conference in Yola on Saturday, where a coalition of ADC youth and women’s groups united to amplify their push for inclusive governance.
Chairman of the Adamawa Coalition of ADC Youth and Women Support Groups, Mohammed Adamu, addressed the conference, highlighting the systemic exclusion of youths and women from key decision-making roles.
He criticised the tokenistic projection of a single youth leader often not even a youth as insufficient.
Similarly, he noted that women’s representation, typically limited to the role of women’s leader, fails to reflect their broader contributions to the party.
Adamu proposed a concrete solution, demanding that at least 15 of the 27 executive positions in the Adamawa State ADC chapter be allocated to youths and women.
“Youth and women inclusion is a right, not a privilege,” he asserted, stressing that such a formula would address years of domination by older men, which has disadvantaged these groups.
He argued that fair representation would harness the energy and perspectives of younger members and women, strengthening the party’s grassroots appeal.
The coalition’s stance reflects growing frustration with the lack of opportunities for these demographics within the ADC’s hierarchy.
Adamu highlighted the significant challenges they face, including limited access to leadership roles and decision-making processes, which stifles their potential to shape the party’s direction.
The conference, convened to magnify their call for change, signals a broader push for inclusivity as the ADC prepares for future elections.
The coalition urged party leaders to prioritise diversity, warning that continued exclusion risks alienating a vital segment of their support base.
