The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has officially unveiled its coalition in Akwa Ibom State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The coalition is made of people from different groups, stakeholders from different opposition parties as well as gubernatorial candidates in the 2023 election from different opposition parties in the state such as the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP (Senator John James Akpanudoedehe) Labour Party (Dr. Uduak Udoh), Action Alliance (Prince Jeremiah Akpan), and Austin Ekanem, former state chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, among others.
Speaking during the unveiling/flag-off ceremony in Uyo on Saturday, the Akwa Ibom State chairman of the coalition, Duke Dick, said the essence of the gathering was to ensure that democracy is reclaimed, renewed, and re-anchored in the will of the people.
Speaking on the theme, ‘Reclaiming Democracy & Empowering the People’, Dick said the ADC with its coalition partners would kick against old politics of “empty promises, money-bags, godfather, and build a movement of inclusion, transparency, and accountability”
He said, “Our mission is to break the chains of corruption and exclusion. To give voice to the youth, to empower women, to mobilize the diaspora, and to unite our diversity into strength.
“Here in Akwa Ibom, a state blessed with oil, gas, fertile land, and brilliant people, poverty still grips too many families. Our youths, instead of being empowered, are too often ignored or manipulated. Women, who carry the strength of our society, are sidelined from decision making, communities that should thrive are left behind.”
Dick said with unity among members the coalition can reclaim the state and show that politics can be clean, and leadership accountable to the people.
On his part, gubernatorial candidate of NNPP at the 2023 election in Akwa Ibom, Akpanudoedehe, urged all citizens of Akwa Ibom to embrace the coalition movement and work together in ousting the present government which he described as ‘insensitive and mean”.
He, therefore, called on the leadership and supporters of the coalition to close ranks and ensure their candidates emerge victorious at the 2027 polls even as he encouraged the coalition to field credible and quality candidates that would restore the people’s hope.
Also speaking, the Labour Party gubernatorial candidate at the 2023 elections, Dr Udoh said the coalition is open to everyone and harped on the importance of fielding credible candidates for various offices.
The Assistant National Organising Secretary, (South South), Dr. Ben Smith, in his remarks acknowledged the level of poverty, hardship and insecurity rocking Nigeria vis a vis Akwa Ibom due to bad governance.
He expressed hope that God would deliver the people through the coalition, adding that the people on their part have a role to play by choosing the right candidates.
“The ADC as a party is God’s solution, a platform where people can choose their own governor and delegates, free from the influence of godfathers,” he said.
In their separate messages, the coalition’s youth and woman leaders, Edidiong Ekpe and Juliet Amba, respectively, pledged to mobilize grassroots support even as they urged members to work in unity and love for the success of the party.
Highpoint of the event was the unveiling/hoisting of the ADC flag by the state chapter chairman, Duke Dike.
