Adamolekun Declines ADC Manifesto Committee Role Amid Consent Controversy

ByEditor

Jan 29, 2026 #ADC 50‑member policy panel Nigeria, #ADC manifesto committee dispute, #Bolaji Abdullahi ADC explanation, #Remi Sonaiya ADC response, #Yemi Adamolekun refusal

Remi Ladigbolu/

Civil society advocate, Yemi Adamolekun, has publicly rejected her listed appointment to the African Democratic Congress’ (ADC) 50‑member Wise Men and Women Policy and Manifesto Committee, sparking questions about the party’s vetting and consent process ahead of the 2027 general election.

Adamolekun, founder and former executive director of Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria, said she was listed without her prior knowledge or agreement.

Taking to X, she insisted she had never joined the ADC and did not consent to be part of the committee.

“No, I’m not interested in serving on a Committee where a simple vetting process is complicated and no one is taking responsibility for the error,” Adamolekun wrote, describing the inclusion as “a gross oversight.”

Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, defended her inclusion and the broader composition of the committee, explaining that membership was not restricted to ADC members or politicians.

Abdullahi said the party deliberately sought to include respected experts from outside partisan politics, including civil society actors, academics and technocrats, in order to craft a credible policy platform.

He maintained that the party had undertaken a vetting process and believed that all those recommended had been notified and had given their consent.

Abdullahi also said the ADC hoped Adamolekun would reconsider because of her experience.

The disagreement has drawn reactions from others named on the list.

Remi Sonaiya, former presidential candidate of the KOWA Party, said she too was “surprised” to see her name and stressed that nominees’ consent should have been sought before publication, regardless of party membership.

The ADC announced the formation of the 50‑member policy and manifesto committee following approval by its National Working Committee and National Chairman, Senator David Mark, as part of efforts to develop a “people‑centred and forward‑looking policy framework for national governance.”

The panel is chaired by Chief John Odigie‑Oyegun, former governor of Edo State, with Professor Pat Utomi as Deputy Chairman and Salihu Lukman as Secretary.

It brings together a wide array of Nigerians, including former legislators, academics, technocrats and civil society leaders, charged with articulating policy proposals designed to address governance, economic management, security and social development challenges.

The committee is scheduled to be formally inaugurated at the ADC National Secretariat in Abuja on February 2, as the party positions itself as a viable alternative platform in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.