By Anne Azuka
As preparations intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has declared its intention to challenge the dominance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, unveiling plans to register more than two million members across the state.The declaration was made at the weekend in Asaba, where the party formally inaugurated the Delta State chapter of its Membership Revalidation, Mobilisation and Registration Committee.
The event marked the official kickoff of the ADC’s grassroots expansion strategy in the state.Speaking at the inauguration, Professor Festus Arunaye, a national member of the ADC Membership Revalidation, Mobilisation and Registration Committee, said the large-scale registration drive is aimed at repositioning the party as a strong alternative ahead of the ADC Delta State 2027 electoral contest.
According to Arunaye, the registration exercise is designed to deepen political participation and offer residents what he described as “genuine dividends of democracy,” particularly in a state historically controlled by the PDP and, more recently, contested by the APC. He noted that targeting over two million members reflects the party’s growing confidence in Delta State’s highly competitive political landscape, despite the entrenched structures, financial strength, and grassroots networks of the dominant parties.Arunaye emphasized that the ADC’s appeal lies in its internal structure and ideology, describing it as a “party of the masses” where no individual, regardless of wealth or political influence, is allowed to dominate party affairs.“
The ADC is built on collective leadership and fairness. No godfatherism is tolerated, and that is why many Nigerians are beginning to see us as a credible alternative,” he said.He disclosed that prospective members would be required to pay a token ₦500 registration fee, adding that the exercise would be conducted through a combination of electronic and physical registration platforms** to ensure broad accessibility across urban and rural communities.
Arunaye urged party members, coordinators, and stakeholders to take the registration exercise seriously, noting that its success would significantly determine the party’s electoral strength and organisational capacity in Delta State ahead of 2027. He also dismissed reports of internal crises within the party, insisting that the ADC in Delta State remains united and free of factional divisions.“There are no factions in the ADC in Delta. The party is united, focused, and determined to offer credible leadership to the people,” he stated.
At a separate stakeholders’ meeting held alongside the inauguration, key registration materials were formally presented to local government area coordinators to facilitate effective mobilisation at the grassroots.The materials—comprising ADC membership booklets, party flags, branded face caps, and Nigerian flags—were handed over by Mr. George Timinimi, a member of the party’s transition committee.Timinimi said the distribution of the materials marked a critical step toward building a visible and active party presence in all local government areas of the state.
With the launch of the registration exercise, political observers say the ADC’s entry into the Delta political space could reshape alliances and intensify competition as the 2027 elections in Delta State draw closer.
