The African Democratic Congress has released a timetable and guidelines for its 2025/2026 congresses and national convention.
The party announced the plan in a National Secretariat circular dated December 30, 2025, signed by its National Chairman, Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe.
According to the circular, activities will begin with a Board of Trustees meeting on January 5, 2025, followed by a National Executive Committee meeting on January 7, 2025.
The ADC said the NEC meeting would address the filling of vacancies in the National Working Committee, set dates for membership registration and revalidation, and prepare for ward, local government and state congresses.
“For 2026, membership registration and revalidation will take place from January 2 to January 15,” the circular stated.
It added that ward executive committee congresses would hold on January 17, with matters arising considered between January 19 and 22.
Local government congresses are scheduled for January 24, while state executive committee congresses will be held on January 31, 2026, the party said.
The ADC said matters arising from the state congresses would be treated between February 2 and 5, 2026.
It also announced that the National Working Committee convention would take place from February 13 to 15, 2026.
The party listed approved delegates to the state congresses to include local government chairmen and secretaries, youth and women leaders, state executive committee members, NEC members from the states, persons with disability leaders, ex-officio members, elected council chairmen and deputies, Board of Trustees members, zonal national officers, and elected National and State Assembly members.
The ADC directed states to set up Congress Planning Committees, excluding members contesting state executive offices.
It said aspirants for state offices must register their intentions with the State Congress Committee and pay an intention fee of N2,000.
“The State Executive Committee shall supervise the work of the Congress Planning Committee to ensure strict compliance with the guidelines,” the circular stated.
On zoning, the party said the composition of state executive committees should, as much as practicable, reflect senatorial zones and comply with its constitutional provisions.
The ADC stressed that only validly registered or revalidated members whose names appear in the official membership register would be eligible to participate in the congresses.
State chapters were directed to notify the National Secretariat of the dates, venues and times of their congresses to enable communication with the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The party also outlined qualification criteria for state executive offices, including a minimum of secondary school education and relevant professional experience for key financial and legal positions.
It added that pre-congress appeals must be resolved at least 24 hours before the congresses, while post-congress appeals would be determined within three days.
The ADC urged members and state chapters to adhere strictly to the guidelines to ensure transparent and orderly congresses nationwide.
