The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has released a detailed timetable and operational guidelines for the conduct of its 2025/2026 congresses and national convention, as part of efforts to deepen internal democracy and reposition the party ahead of future elections.

The timetable and guidelines are contained in a National Secretariat circular dated December 30, 2025, signed by the party’s National Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe.

According to the circular, activities will begin with a Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting on January 5, 2026, followed by a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on January 7, 2026.

Key items on the NEC agenda include the filling of vacant positions in the National Working Committee (NWC), fixing dates for membership registration and revalidation, and preparations for ward, local government and state congresses.

Membership registration and revalidation, the party said, will run from January 2 to January 15, 2026, after which ward congresses will be held on January 17. Issues arising from the ward congresses are expected to be addressed between January 19 and 22.

Local government congresses have been scheduled for January 24, while state executive committee congresses will hold on January 31, 2026, with matters arising to be resolved between February 2 and 5.

The circular further outlined the approved delegates to state congresses, in line with Article 24 (a–e) of the ADC Constitution, as modified by a resolution of the NWC.

Eligible delegates include local government chairmen and secretaries, youth and women leaders, state and national executive committee members from the state, persons living with disabilities (PWD) leaders, ex-officio members, elected council chairmen and their deputies, Board of Trustees members, zonal officers, elected national and state assembly members, and legal advisers.

States were directed to constitute Congress Planning Committees, with the proviso that members of such committees must not be aspirants for state executive offices.

Aspirants are required to formally register their intention with the State Congress Committee upon payment of an intention fee of ₦2,000, which may be used to partially finance the congresses.

On zoning, the party emphasised that the composition and distribution of state executive committee positions should, as much as practicable, reflect senatorial zones and comply with relevant provisions of the ADC Constitution.

The National Working Committee Convention has been slated for February 13 to 15, 2026.
The party also stressed that only validly registered or revalidated members whose names appear in the official membership register will be eligible to participate in the congresses.

State chapters were directed to formally notify the National Secretariat of the dates, venues and times of their congresses to enable proper communication with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

On eligibility to contest, the ADC stated that aspirants must possess at least secondary school education, while offices such as State Legal Adviser, Treasurer and Financial Secretary should be occupied by persons with relevant professional experience.

It added that the State Youth Leader must not be above 25 years, while the State Women Leader position is reserved exclusively for women.

The party noted that all pre-congress appeals must be resolved not later than 24 hours before the congresses, while post-congress appeals should be determined within three days. Congress reports are to be submitted to the National Secretariat within five working days after each congress.

The ADC urged all members and state chapters to strictly adhere to the guidelines to ensure transparent, credible and orderly congresses nationwide.