The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has announced a bold agenda to overhaul Nigeria’s political and governance systems, promising to end entrenched practices such as godfatherism, budget padding, and patronage-driven politics.
In a statement released on Friday by the party’s coalition mobilisation wing, ADC Vanguard, and titled “No Godfathers, No Budget Padding: How ADC Plans to Redesign Governance”, the party outlined a comprehensive plan to create a transparent, citizen-focused, and digitally accountable government.
“For too long, Nigerian politics has revolved around personalities rather than principles, and power has been used for patronage rather than progress,” the statement read. “The ADC stands to change that narrative.”
Central to the party’s vision is a redefinition of governance as a system that serves citizens—not politicians. The ADC said it would mandate that at least 70% of budgeted projects directly benefit local communities, eliminating inflated contracts and bureaucratic inefficiencies.
The party pledged to use digital tools, including blockchain-backed systems, to ensure that public spending is fully traceable. “Every naira spent by the government will be traceable through an open digital ledger, accessible to citizens in real time,” the statement said.
The ADC also promised to involve Nigerian youth not only as employees but as active participants in government accountability. Through tools such as public dashboards and community-driven verification systems, the party said governance would become an “open system where the people are both the beneficiaries and the watchdogs.”
READ ALSO: ADC warns NASS against shifting 2027 elections to November 2026
Rejecting what it described as the “old order” of secrecy and selective empowerment, the ADC stated that ministries and agencies under its leadership would operate like “value-driven enterprises,” with quarterly appraisals based on measurable results, not political loyalty.
“This is governance redesigned: a model where public service becomes a performance contract, not a reward for political allegiance. A system where competence replaces connections, merit overtakes mediocrity, and transparency replaces corruption,” the party said.
Positioning itself as a true alternative to the status quo, the ADC said it is not offering “another round of empty promises,” but “a system that works.”
“We believe government should function like a well-run business, but one where the citizens are the shareholders and the dividends are better roads, safer communities, quality education, affordable healthcare, and jobs,” the statement concluded.
The party’s declaration comes amid growing public frustration with governance failures and alleged manipulation of national budgets—most recently involving claims of N10.96 trillion in inserted projects between 2021 and 2025.
