By Roy Ofori, Africa Heritage Global Affairs Editor
In moments of political transition, parties are tested not by the elegance of their communiqués or the eloquence of television appearances, but by their capacity to organize, mobilize, and inspire at the grassroots. This is the crucible in which credible political movements are forged. The African Democratic Congress (ADC), now standing at a decisive historical juncture, must embrace this reality with clarity and courage. The examples set by leaders who act rather than merely speak offer the clearest pathway forward.
The “Gbandi Example” has become a reference point within ADC circles precisely because it embodies a politics of presence. It rejects armchair activism and diaspora-only rhetoric detached from local realities. Instead, it insists on political engagement that is grounded, sacrificial, and measurable. Leadership, in this framing, is not proclaimed; it is demonstrated. This same ethos has been forcefully articulated and more importantly, exemplified by Dr. Peter Mozie through his actions in Njikoka Local Government Area.
In Njikoka LGA, Dr. Mozie convened an ADC stakeholders’ meeting that was neither symbolic nor ceremonial, and certainly not cosmetic. It was a working political engagement. The outcome speaks for itself: over 100 new members were registered in a single outing, with numbers continuing to rise as momentum builds. This growth is not accidental; it is the result of deliberate grassroots strategy, credibility earned through consistency, and leadership rooted in community trust.
What makes this intervention particularly significant is that it bridges the often-lamented gap between rhetoric and action. Too many political actors speak passionately about “building structures” without ever stepping into wards, engaging the people, or investing time in patient political organization. Dr. Mozie’s Njikoka engagement sends a clear counter-message: the grassroots are not an abstract concept. They are living communities that respond to sincerity, clarity of purpose, and visible commitment.
In this sense, Dr. Mozie is leading by example just as Dr. Kenneth Gbandi has consistently done. Both men represent a leadership tradition that understands that the soul of ADC’s future lies not in elite bargaining alone, but in mass political consciousness. Their approach underscores a simple but often ignored truth: political parties do not win elections through press releases; they win through people.
For ADC leaders at home and in the diaspora, this moment calls for sober introspection. Diaspora engagement remains vital financially, intellectually, and strategically, but it must be organically connected to local party structures. The battle for Nigeria’s political future will not be won on social media timelines or in hotel conference rooms abroad. It will be won in town halls, village squares, ward meetings, and local organizing cells. Diaspora leaders must therefore see themselves not as parallel power centers, but as reinforcements for grassroots mobilization.
The Njikoka experience offers a replicable model. First, leadership must be visible and accessible. Second, engagement must be participatory rather than transactional. Third, growth must be measured not by claims or rhetoric, but by verifiable membership expansion and functional party structures. When these elements align, political credibility follows naturally.
The symbolism of this moment cannot be overstated. At a time when cynicism about politics runs deep, actions such as Dr. Mozie’s restore faith that a different political culture is possible, one built on service, inclusion, and discipline. It reminds ADC faithful that party ideology must be lived before it can be sold to the electorate.
This is, therefore, a clear charge to all ADC leaders: emulate what works. Step outside comfort zones. Invest in grassroots engagements that may not trend online but transform communities offline. Measure leadership by impact, not proximity to power. The Gbandi Example and the Mozie Action are not exceptions; they should become the standard.
If ADC is to position itself as a credible alternative in Nigeria’s democratic landscape, it must replicate these grassroots victories across local governments, states, and regions. Today, Njikoka LGA has demonstrated what is possible when words are matched with work. Tomorrow, the rest of the party must rise to the same challenge.
History does not remember those who spoke well. It remembers those who showed up.
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