‘You Can’t Litigate Us Into Silence’ – Mark Talks Tough At Convention

The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Senator David Mark, has described the ongoing crisis in the party as a generational challenge.

Mark said this at the 2026 National Convention of the party in Abuja.

He told the crowd of delegates and supporters that the African Democratic Congress recognise this moment as a that of great opportunity, as well as a moment of great responsibility.

“Our objective is not merely political success or a mere quest for power. We see it as a duty to ourselves and to posterity to demonstrate to all Nigerians that something good can come out of politics, and that democracy can actually deliver a better life that they seek. This is the fundamental goal of our party.

“We view this as a generational challenge. And this is why we say to all opposition leaders in the country, regardless of your political party, come, let us work together to save our country. The challenges that we are confronted with goes beyond partisanship, it is a patriotic duty to rescue our country from creeping dictatorship and exploitative governance,” he said.

Mark said the first National Convention of the African Democratic Congress under his leadership is one of the most significant gatherings in recent Nigerian democratic history.

“Not because of who stands on this podium, but because of what this convention represents: the unyielding survival of opposition democracy in Nigeria,” he said.

He said his acceptance to serve was with a clear sense of duty.

“And I accepted it with an unshakable commitment to reposition the ADC as the platform through which Nigeria will be rescued and rebuilt.

Lamenting that they had been betrayed, and he said “Since we started this journey, we have faced many challenges, and faced many hurdles. Our party has faced fierce and unprecedented betrayal. Let us not pretend otherwise. Recent developments involving the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have raised fundamental questions about the process that govern our democracy.

“Forces that feared what a united ADC represents came for us; through the courts, through institutions, through bureaucratic obstruction. They sought to stop this convention from happening. They removed our names from official portals. They denied us preferred venues. They deployed every instrument available to them to ensure that you – the delegates, the members, the owners of this party – would never gather.”

According to him, they had made it clear that in an ever-shrinking democratic space that is orchestrated by those in the ruling party, “the ADC will not bow, we will not cower, and we will not retreat.”

He said strong political movements were not built in moments of ease and in comfort. They are built in times like this, when a broken nation cries out for change and the people look for those who would lead with commitment and honesty.

“We will not surrender, because what is at stake is not just about the ADC or the opposition. It is the very survival of our democracy. To surrender therefore is to yield to tyranny and therefore become complicit in the destruction of our democracy.

“Let us here be the answer to every doubt, every threat, and every shenanigan designed to keep Nigeria trapped in a one-party future. The ADC cannot be wished away. The ADC cannot be litigated into silence. The ADC belongs to the Nigerian people – and the Nigerian people have spoken by showing up today.

“I say to those who orchestrated these obstacles: you have not weakened us. You have welded us together. Every attempt to suppress this party has only deepened the resolve of our members, widened our coalition, and reminded Nigerians why a strong opposition is not optional; it is essential to democracy’s survival.”

The Chairman said there is a genuine re-commitment to putting the people first.

“This is the very reason that they continue to believe, despite the daunting challenges that they face today, that Nigeria, this great country, will rediscover itself.”