By Hon. Kenneth Gbandi
As you are all aware, the General Assembly of ADC Delta State, our highest statutory organ convened and unanimously approved 15 November as the official date for the Delta ADC Unity Coalition Unveiling. This decision followed the successful Delta State Coalition Leadership Forum held at on 8th October 2025 at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
At our follow-up meeting in Asaba, convened by the Delta State ADC Executive, specially called to review the statewide LGA and ward coalition unveiling, as well as the proposed date of 15 November emanating from the resolutions of the Meeting of the Delta State Coalition Caucus and Stakeholders on the Upcoming Unveiling of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Delta State.
This date was thoroughly discussed, unanimously adopted, and a State Unveiling Committee comprising all coalition partners was established. I was unanimously appointed Chairman of this Committee, with Architect Julius Akpovoka as Secretary and Hon. Ben Adhuze heading the Finance Unit. We were formally mandated to deliver this historic event on behalf of the Delta ADC family.
The Unveiling of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Delta State was in full alignment with the directive of His Excellency Senator David Mark, who instructed all ADC members nationwide to return to their states and wards to mobilize for the success of the coalition ahead of the National Unveiling.
Across the Diaspora, national, state, and LGA levels, our members took this directive with utmost seriousness. Party faithful across Delta State mobilized massively, with others supporting remotely. Coalition-building efforts across the state were impressive, sincere, and broad-based. With the unveiling date of 15 November fully validated by the Delta ADC General Assembly, the Committee approached its assignment with honour, discipline, and absolute commitment.
Subcommittees on mobilization, finance, welfare, media, protocol, security, and others were immediately constituted, and they swung into action with remarkable efficiency.
By 14 November 2025, everything was fully in place:
• Our women were already cooking to receive our guests.
• Our youths were on the streets mobilizing and mounting banners.
• ADC security teams were deployed for coordination.
• The Police and DSS were fully briefed and activated.
• Delegates from distant LGAs had arrived and checked into hotels.
Every kobo spent came solely from the personal sacrifices of our members, energized by the call of our national leadership and the renewed grassroots enthusiasm sweeping through Delta ADC. By 12:00 noon on the day of the unveiling, Delta State was effectively locked down, mobilized, ready, and committed. Market women, students, pensioners, businesspeople, and friends of ADC all contributed. (by the way we still have a few outstanding bills and continue to welcome donations.)
The hall was set, banners mounted at strategic locations, and members were trooping in to finalize arrangements.
The Disturbing Last-Minute Attempt to Halt the Unveiling
It was against this massive groundwork that we began receiving troubling though initially unconfirmed reports that certain powerful individuals from Delta State were attempting to arm-twist the party into halting the unveiling just hours before commencement, for reasons best known to them.
There had been earlier attempts to postpone the event, but we pressed ahead with confidence after receiving explicit clearance from both the national and zonal leadership of our great party confirming that the unveiling must proceed.
Let it be said respectfully but unequivocally: Halting the unveiling at such a late stage would have been disastrous.
It would have damaged the credibility of the party and extinguished the renewed interest, unity, and energy ignited by the coalition. It would have also confirmed the growing rumour across the state that ADC Delta was becoming a transactional party for a select elite in the state.
The people had moved. The structures had moved. The bases had moved.
A decision whispered in Abuja dining rooms by a handful of elites contrary to the earlier blessings of our capable national leadership cannot override the open, transparent, statutory decision of the Delta ADC General Assembly mere hours before kickoff.
Leadership, Loyalty, and Due Process
As Chairman of this Committee, a former Deputy National Chairman for Diaspora Engagement, and leader of ADC-DN (7th Zone), I remain a servant of our great party committed to working with both our national and state leadership to take over Aso Rock and Dennis Osadebe House in 2027.
Alongside my dedicated committee members, we carried out the mandate entrusted to us with dignity and commitment. We had no option but to honour the trust placed in us.
We cannot and will not betray the sacrifice and readiness demonstrated by the Delta ADC family. Leadership must rest on courage, consultation, and adherence to due process not fear, imposition, or intimidation.
A National Pattern We Must Reject
What unfolded in Delta mirrors a troubling national pattern where the voices of committed citizens are increasingly suppressed by privileged elites desperate to retain control and relevance at all costs.
This is harmful to ADC.
Harmful to democracy.
Harmful to our credibility as a political movement.
And it must not be allowed under the leadership of His Excellency David Mark.
Across Nigeria, a new civic energy is rising bold, informed, and unafraid. The recent viral exchange between a young naval officer and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, exemplifies a generation unwilling to bow to intimidation. That same spirit powered the youths, women, leaders, and members of ADC Delta State as they resisted attempts by local power blocs to undermine the general will.
Our Message to the National Leadership
We appeal respectfully to the ADC National Leadership: Do not allow a few individuals to suffocate the state movement you have helped build and were chosen to lead.
ADC was founded on inclusion, innovation, and integrity not gatekeeping.
Silencing genuine participation or suffocating reformist voices does not strengthen unity it destroys trust.
We in Delta State affirm without malice but with absolute clarity that we will not be taken for fools, and we will not be silenced by individuals whose claim to leadership is questionable at best. We will defend due process.. We will protect the dignity of our members. We will uphold the ADC Constitution. History is watching !
Appreciation
I extend my deepest appreciation to ADC Delta State for entrusting us with this assignment; to the courageous members of the Unveiling Committee; to ADC members across all LGAs; to our national and zonal officers for their encouragement and guidance; to the media; and to all brothers and sisters across Delta State who stood firm.
Thank you for your commitment, your discipline, and your unwavering loyalty to the movement. Indeed, a new Nigeria is possible and Delta State is already shining the light.
Respectfully,
Hon. Dr. Kenneth C. Gbandi, Chairman, ADC Delta State Coalition Unveiling Committee, Former Deputy National Chairman (Diaspora), ADC, Leader, ADC-DN
