ADC Launches High-Powered Constitution Review Committee, Vows Party Reform and Deeper Internal Democracy
By Nelson Ogbu and Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu | January 8, 2026.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has inaugurated a high-powered Constitution Review Committee as part of efforts to deepen internal democracy, strengthen accountability, and reposition the party for effective national leadership.
At the inauguration ceremony in Abuja on Thursday, the National Chairman of the party, Senator David A. B. Mark, GCON, described the constitution as the moral compass and legal backbone of any political organisation, stressing that the review was timely and necessary to align the ADC with present realities, future challenges, and global best practices.
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He said the exercise was not intended to alter the party’s founding principles but to strengthen them by promoting inclusiveness, fairness, discipline, and transparency across all party structures.
Senator Mark charged the committee to conduct wide consultations, strengthen provisions on party primaries, dispute resolution, and internal governance, and ensure full compliance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and relevant electoral laws.
Senator Mark noted that as the ADC continues to grow nationwide, the need to periodically review its constitution has become inevitable. According to him, the exercise is designed to entrench clarity, fairness, inclusiveness, and accountability within the party’s structures, while also promoting unity and effective dispute resolution.
“This review is about empowering our members, strengthening internal cohesion, and positioning the ADC as a credible and disciplined alternative for national leadership,” Mark said. He urged committee members to consult widely, listen to party stakeholders at all levels, and remain faithful to the party’s founding values.
The committee is chaired by renowned legal practitioner, Etigwe Uwa, SAN, and comprises prominent politicians, legal minds, academics, and technocrats, including former Governor Emeka Ihedioha, Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe and Ehigie Uzamere, Chief Ralph Nwosu, Prof. Lawal Salihu, Barr. Aishatu Dan-Kani, and retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Adamu, among others.
Its terms of reference include reviewing the existing ADC constitution to identify areas needing amendment or clarification; aligning the document with democratic best practices; strengthening provisions on inclusiveness, transparency, equity, and participation—especially for women, youths, and persons with disabilities; and ensuring compliance with the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and relevant electoral laws.
The committee will also review the powers and relationships of party organs, as well as provisions governing primaries, congresses, discipline, sanctions, and dispute resolution, with the aim of enhancing credibility and efficiency.
In his acceptance speech, the committee chairman, Etigwe Uwa, SAN, assured the party leadership of the committee’s commitment to the task. He said members would deploy their collective expertise to produce a forward-looking constitution with strong grassroots mobilization frameworks and robust dispute resolution mechanisms.
Uwa emphasized that the review does not imply that the current constitution is defective, but rather reflects the party’s desire to continuously improve and insulate itself from the crises that often plague political parties.
“When completed, this constitution will help guarantee fairness, transparency, and democratic selection of party leaders and flagbearers,” he said.
The inauguration of the committee is widely seen as part of ADC’s broader effort to deepen internal democracy and prepare the party for future electoral contests with stronger institutional credibility.
Barrister Etigwe Uwa, SAN, assured members of its total commitment to the assignment. He said the review would focus on producing a forward-looking constitution with strong mechanisms for grassroots mobilisation, fair and democratic selection processes, and robust dispute-resolution frameworks capable of shielding the party from recurring internal crises.
According to him, the committee will draw from best practices, critically examine party structures down to the unit level, and seek inputs from members nationwide through both physical and virtual engagements.
The 22-member committee includes senior legal practitioners, former governors, senators, and party leaders such as Barr. Peter Iyeola Oyewole; Hon. C.I.D. Maduabum; Hon. Ishaka Bawa; Sen. Ehigie Uzamere; Mrs. Sally Oguni-Agbo (PhD); Barr. Aishatu Dan-Kani; Prof. Lawal Salihu; H.E. Emeka Ihedioha; Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe; Hon. Mohammed Kumaila; Barr. Suleiman Usman, SAN; Bar Zawo Osu; DIG Ibrahim Adamu (Rtd); Dr. Rasaq Oyelami Saliu; Sen. E.Y. Orker-Jev; Sen. Idris Abdullahi Umar; Chief Ralph Nwosu; Barr. Amanda Pam; Prof. Mohammed Sani Bello; Dr. Paul Angya; and Rukayya Lamido Dodo.
The committee is expected to submit an interim report and proposed constitutional amendments to the National Working Committee within 30 days.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, JANUARY 9TH 2026)
