From Christiana Gokyo, Jos
The Plateau State chapter of the African Democratic Congress has officially launched its membership revalidation card, alongside the presentation of nomination forms and party guidelines to members in Jos.
The initiative is in line with Nigeria’s amended electoral laws, which require political parties to submit digital membership registers before conducting party primaries, making membership registration a critical component of party organisation and compliance.
The leader of the party in the state and former Minister of Youth and Sports, Barr. Solomon Seclap Dalung, on Saturday commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly of Nigeria for amending the Electoral Act, describing it as a step toward strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process.
“This amendment is a courageous step toward deepening democracy and ensuring transparency in our electoral system,” Dalung said.
He urged aspirants within the party to intensify grassroots mobilisation, noting that the party’s primary elections would be conducted through direct primaries.
Dalung described the exercise as a bold step toward strengthening internal democracy and repositioning the party for greater political participation.
He explained that the membership revalidation card is designed to update and authenticate the party’s register to ensure that only duly recognised members participate in party activities and decision-making processes.
Stakeholders at the gathering commended the initiative, describing it as a move that would further consolidate the party’s structure and grassroots mobilisation efforts.
The state leadership reaffirmed its commitment to fairness, accountability, and inclusiveness as the party continues to mobilise support across the 17 local government areas of Plateau State.
Dalung also debunked rumours suggesting that the party’s leadership in Plateau State was in crisis, maintaining that it remains united. He called on members to respect the leadership of the State Chairman, Samuel Pam Gyang, and work collectively to strengthen the party.
Speaking earlier, Gyang commended the party leader for his continued support and commitment to strengthening the party’s structure. He urged members to take advantage of the opportunity to register and revalidate their membership, noting that the party’s doors remain open to new entrants.
“Our doors remain open to every Nigerian who believes in justice, fairness, and genuine democratic governance,” Gyang said.
Dalung described the unveiling as significant in Nigeria’s political space, recalling the 18-month struggle and challenges faced during the formation of the ADC. He alleged that the coalition encountered infiltration from anti-democratic forces but remained committed to its mission.
“The leaders of the coalition have a different approach from those who aim to destroy Nigeria. Our focus is on solving the country’s problems,” he said.
He stated that the party’s mission is to rescue democracy and hand over leadership to a younger generation, while criticising what he described as a system that serves only a few individuals and their families. He highlighted insecurity, hunger, and poverty as pressing national challenges.
Dalung assured members that even if governors and security officials defect to the APC, Nigerians should not be intimidated, insisting that power ultimately resides with the people.
He advised aspirants to focus on building grassroots support rather than relying solely on party leaders for tickets, noting that direct primaries represent a more democratic process despite the challenges of consensus-building.
He emphasised the importance of engaging communities directly to secure support during primaries and urged members to respect party leaders and ongoing reconciliation efforts, stressing that the responsibility of the party chairman is to unite members.
The party also outlined the membership registration process, including the requirement of a valid membership card to participate in primaries. The Plateau chapter constituted a 19-member committee to oversee the exercise, with some applicants reportedly disqualified during registration.
The cost of obtaining the membership card was disclosed, and members were reminded of its importance for participation in party primaries.
