By NEFISHETU YAKUBU

African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Thursday officially flagged off its nationwide membership mobilisation and registration exercise, marking the formal commencement of the programme.

In his opening remarks at the flag-off, the ADC National Chairman, Sen. David Mark, announced that membership cards would be issued immediately after registration, ensuring prompt confirmation for every registered member.

“When you register, you get your card, I assure you without hesitation or conditions attached.

“In other political parties, individuals buy membership cards in bulk and keep them locked away in private rooms for personal control and advantage.

“Our cards will not be kept in the room, I declare firmly. ADC cards will be given directly to rightful members without favoritism or hidden arrangements.

“No single person will corner the cards and distribute them piecemeal. Such manipulation denies fairness, inclusion and equal political participation, among members,” he said.

Mark further stated that the exercise would be conducted transparently, assuring that there would be no exclusion or discrimination throughout the registration process across all states and wards.

“For ADC, it is a card, a person’’, I emphasise. Whether friend or foe, once you register and follow our rules, you receive your card,” he added.

Mark reaffirmed the party’s commitment to openness, fairness, accountability and disciplined growth as it expands its structures and prepares for 2027.

“ADC is a new bride in town, and I proudly state. Across the nation, people eagerly ask, ‘Where are your cards?’ Today, the cards are available,” he said.

Presenting an overview of the exercise, the Committee Chairman, Kashim Imam, said both online and manual registration would run concurrently to ensure broad participation.

Imam explained that a strong website had been developed for online registration, designed to withstand heavy traffic and prevent crashes from anticipated high numbers.

According to him, the system ensures seamless registration, capturing phone numbers, state of origin, local government area, passport photographs, and assigning each member a unique identification number.

Imam disclosed that 50,000 membership cards would initially be distributed to state committee chairmen, alongside registration forms for states, local governments and wards.

He stated that membership registration would cost N500, while the party’s annual dues had also been fixed for N500, bringing the total registration payment to N1,000 per member.

Imam said that both manual and online registrations would be harmonised to ensure consistency, eliminate duplication and maintain a credible national membership database.

According to him, membership cards have been duly signed by the national chairman and the national secretary to guarantee authenticity.

Also speaking, the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, urged the committee to build a register of conviction, not convenience, anchored on integrity and credibility.

“Across our political landscape, parties have become addicted to the illusion of size and huge volume of members.

“They inflate membership roles with phantom names, duplicate entries and invented identities, all to project a strength they do not possess.

“The registers are fat but the structures are hollow. We must not follow that path. That is not the path we are here to inaugurate.

“We must, therefore, resist, with every vibrancy of our convictions, the temptation to bloat our figures with imaginary people. It does not help us,” Aregbesola said.

He urged the committee to build with urgency and discipline a membership register of integrity where every name must belong to a real person. (NAN)

Update news