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By Tracy Moses
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said Nigeria must urgently break away from a political culture defined by unfulfilled campaign promises and weak accountability, pledging to introduce a governance system that will compel elected officials to honour commitments made to citizens.
Speaking on the party’s evolving policy direction, ADC chieftain, Salihu Lukman said Nigerians have grown increasingly disillusioned with politicians who make grand promises during election campaigns but fail to implement them once in office.
According to him, the ADC is committed to reshaping Nigeria’s political environment by embedding measurable commitments, strict policy discipline, and public accountability into governance structures.
“The Nigerian state must be reconstructed to serve the Nigerian citizen,” Lukman said.
He noted that the party’s newly approved Manifesto and Policy Principles were designed to restore public trust by prioritising accountability, social welfare delivery, and clearly defined governance outcomes.
Lukman explained that the ADC manifesto spans twelve key sectors, including education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, industrial development, governance, economy, and security, with implementation plans aimed at repositioning Nigeria into a more productive, citizen-driven economy.
He further stated that all ADC candidates for the 2027 general elections would be required to undergo structured induction and orientation programmes to ensure full understanding and commitment to the party’s manifesto upon election.
“Nigerians are eagerly waiting for a system where political leaders can be held responsible for the promises they make before elections. This is what should set the ADC apart from the APC and other political parties,” he said.
Lukman also faulted the ruling APC, accusing it of abandoning key campaign promises made during the 2015 elections, a development he said has contributed to Nigeria’s economic and social challenges.
“One of the major disappointments Nigerians have expressed about the APC is that after winning the 2015 elections, the party failed to implement most of the promises contained in its manifesto,” he added.
The ADC chieftain further stressed that the party rejects economic reforms that place excessive burden on citizens without adequate protection measures, insisting that policy decisions must prioritise citizens’ welfare.
“Macroeconomic stability must protect people, not just markets,” Lukman said.
He added that the ADC coalition represents a broader national movement focused on rebuilding governance through discipline, accountability, and policy-driven leadership.
The party leadership also assured that its Manifesto and Policy Principles would be formally presented to the public ahead of the 2027 general elections.