Former Senate President and National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, has decried the worsening economic hardship in Nigeria, warning that citizens are struggling amid soaring cost of living and rising food prices.
Speaking in Umuahia today, Abia State, during the flag-off of the ADC Membership Mobilisation, Registration and Revalidation Exercise, Mark lamented that many families are being stretched beyond their limits while small businesses continue to struggle.
Represented at the event by the party’s National Welfare Secretary, Comrade Nkem Ukandu, the former Senate President criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying too many promises have failed to translate into meaningful relief for ordinary Nigerians. He stressed that governance should alleviate hardship, not deepen public anxiety.
Mark also raised concerns over the state of the nation’s democracy, insisting that elections must be conducted on a level playing field where no party enjoys undue advantage and opposition voices are protected.
Contributing, the Senator representing Abia South, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, accused the APC of poor economic management and lack of direction, alleging that federal contractors have not been paid since 2024. He also criticised the non-implementation of the 2025 national budget, which he said was merely rolled over without producing tangible results.
Abaribe added that the APC-led government had failed to provide effective leadership, insisting the party “knows nothing and has done nothing” to ease Nigerians’ suffering. He urged citizens dissatisfied with the current state of affairs to join the ADC as a credible vehicle for national renewal.
Unveiling the party register, Dame Ngozi Onyioha-Orji described the ADC as an inclusive, people-driven party and called on members to shun division, emphasising that the party must be “worthy of emulation.”
Other party leaders addressed the gathering, with Hon. Suleiman Ukandu (Abia Central) pledging that the ADC would champion Nigeria’s progress, while Hon. Uko Nkole (Abia North) urged unity to restore good governance, warning that the APC had attempted to rig elections in advance.
Ike Bishop Okoronkwo called on youths to join the party and focus on peace, unity, and love, while Ugoeze Elizabeth Obioma encouraged women to actively participate, describing the ADC as a platform designed to rescue Nigeria. Barrister Etigwe Uwa highlighted the Party Membership Card (PMC) as a tool to empower citizens and ensure accountability within political parties.
The exercise marks a major step in the ADC’s effort to consolidate grassroots support, strengthen party structures, and position itself as a credible alternative in Abia and nationwide ahead of the 2026 general elections.
