The (ADC) has quietly achieved what many mainstream political parties routinely promise yet fail to deliver: genuine youth inclusion in the structures of political power.
While Nigeria’s political arena remains largely dominated by gerontocracy and elite recycling, the ADC has appointed several young Nigerians to key positions within its National Working Committee (NWC), signalling both a tactical repositioning and a symbolic break from the status quo.
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The newly appointed officers include Bilyaminu Duhu as Assistant National Youth Leader for the North East, Jackie Wayas as Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Hassana Dada as Assistant National Youth Leader for the North Central, David Itokpa as Deputy National Welfare Secretary, and Hauwa Yusuf as Deputy National Secretary.
These are not ceremonial roles. They are influential positions embedded in the party’s internal decision-making framework, underscoring a deliberate effort to integrate young voices into national-level policy shaping.
Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar was among the first prominent political figures to publicly commend the ADC’s initiative.
Posting on his verified 𝕏 handle, Atiku applauded both the party and its young appointees, describing the move as “a powerful example of leadership that walks the talk.”
“Congratulations to the vibrant young members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bilyaminu Duhu (Assistant National Youth Leader, North East), Jackie Wayas, @JWEZEE (Deputy National Publicity Secretary), Hassana Dada (Assistant National Youth Leader, North Central), David Itokpa, @iamhistory_ (Deputy National Welfare Secretary), Hauwa Yusuf, @itz_hawee (Deputy National Secretary) and others, on their well-deserved appointments to the party’s National Working Committee,” he wrote.
“The @ADCNig is no longer just speaking about youth inclusion; it is now boldly demonstrating it in action. Indeed, the future of our youth must not be shaped in their absence, and I commend the ADC for setting a powerful example by giving them a seat at the table where decisions are made.”
Atiku’s remarks carry weight. As a longstanding actor in Nigerian politics and an advocate for youth development, his support suggests a growing cross-party acknowledgment of ADC’s repositioning.
Beyond the social media endorsements, the appointments form part of a larger strategy. The ADC, once dismissed as a peripheral platform, is recalibrating its image ahead of the 2027 general elections. By anchoring its identity in Nigeria’s largest demographic bloc—its youth—the party is seeking to rewrite its role in the political landscape.
For years, Nigerian political parties have campaigned on promises of youth empowerment without translating those pledges into real power-sharing. Even the passage of the “Not Too Young to Run” Act failed to deliver the expected systemic overhaul.
The ADC’s latest appointments challenge that pattern. Instead of rhetorical flourishes, the party has opted for visible, high-stakes integration of young leaders into its governing architecture.
It is a bold gambit with clear electoral calculations. Over 60 percent of Nigeria’s registered voters are under 35, many of them disillusioned by the major parties’ inability to address youth unemployment, digital freedom, education reform, and worsening insecurity.
The ADC now presents itself as a credible political refuge for this restless generation—one that mobilised national movements such as #EndSARS and continues to seek platforms for meaningful engagement.
The ripple effects of ADC’s growing appeal are already being felt. In Cross River State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recently expelled several high-profile members, including former Governor Liyel Imoke and Senator Gershom Bassey, over alleged affiliations with the ADC.
This development reflects growing unease within the PDP over internal defections and shifting allegiances, especially among younger political stakeholders and grassroots operatives.
Similar expulsions have been recorded in the Lagos PDP, where members were sanctioned for publicly endorsing the ADC. These measures point to deepening fractures in the traditional power blocs and the perceived threat posed by the ADC’s rise.
What is emerging is a broader political shift driven by a younger, more ideologically curious electorate, increasingly disillusioned with recycled leadership and empty campaign slogans.
Sceptics, however, have questioned the depth of the ADC’s commitment. Some warn that the mere presence of young faces does not equate to a shift in party culture or policy priorities. Others raise concerns that without strong institutional safeguards, these young leaders may be sidelined by more entrenched figures within the party.
But ADC officials insist the appointments are part of a larger transformation. “We’re building something different,” one party source told Daily Post Nigeria under anonymity. “We’re not just appointing young people, we’re training them, empowering them, and integrating them into our policy process. This is not symbolic; it’s structural.”
As Nigeria moves towards another pivotal election cycle, the question is no longer whether youth inclusion is necessary, but whether the political class is ready to relinquish control. The ADC’s experiment could either become a blueprint for renewal or falter under the weight of internal contradictions and external resistance.
Whatever the outcome, Nigeria’s young electorate is watching—less interested in lofty declarations, and more attuned to credible pathways to representation.
As Atiku Abubakar put it: “This is what true leadership looks like, not just talking the talk, but walking it with purpose.”
The ADC may have just ignited a much-needed spark in Nigeria’s stagnant political field.
