The African Democratic Congress on Wednesday inaugurated a 63-member campaign organisation in Cross River State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The National Coordinator of the Atiku/Amaechi Campaign Organisation, Mr Ekpo Okon, who spoke at the inauguration in Calabar, said Nigeria needed committed leaders to rescue the country from its worsening economic situation.
This came days after the faction of the African Democratic Congress led by its factional National Chairman, Nafiu Gombe, inaugurated its North-West Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The inauguration followed a meeting of the party’s North-West Zonal Caucus with governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly candidates, as well as other stakeholders, in Sokoto State on Friday.
Okon said the inauguration marked the party’s commencement of preparations to mobilise voters and promote its candidates ahead of the elections scheduled for January and February 2027.
He criticised the Federal Government’s removal of the fuel subsidy and currency devaluation, saying the policies had worsened Nigerians’ living conditions.
Also speaking, a former Peoples Democratic Party state chairman questioned the utilisation of funds saved from subsidy removal and increased borrowing, alleging that budget implementation under the current administration had been poor.
He said, “The government has failed to demonstrate how borrowed funds and subsidy savings have translated into meaningful development.”
Okon also faulted rising university tuition fees, arguing that the introduction of student loans had further burdened economically disadvantaged families.
“We advocate subsidising local petroleum production through crude oil supply to domestic refineries at reduced rates to make the products more affordable,” he noted.
The ADC chieftain urged party members to intensify grassroots mobilisation, saying Nigerians needed to understand the economic consequences of government policies before making electoral choices.
Speaking at the event, the ADC governorship candidate, Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo, said her administration would transform the state from one focused on survival into a thriving, people-centred society.
She said the party had developed a comprehensive manifesto focused on citizens, economic growth and strong institutions to promote productivity and empower residents.
Toyo criticised Nigeria’s political culture, particularly the use of religion in politics, saying the ADC prioritised the rule of law, accountability, security, productivity and citizens’ empowerment.
The candidate also criticised the All Progressives Congress, accusing it of failing to deliver tangible achievements after 12 years in power and resorting to personal attacks against opposition figures.
Earlier, the ADC Cross River State Chairman, Mr Godwin Effanga, described the party’s governorship candidate as competent, experienced and capable of addressing the state’s development challenges.
Effanga urged Cross River residents to look beyond party affiliations and support the ADC to rescue the state from what he described as poor management.
He also urged party members to mobilise voters and defend their votes, stressing that the 2027 elections offered an opportunity to secure a better future for their children.
