As the world marked International Youth Day, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) renewed its commitment to inclusive governance, promising Nigerian youths greater participation in national leadership.

During an event held in Abuja on Tuesday, the party’s Interim National Chairman, David Mark, and National Youth Leader, Balarabe Rufai, assured young Nigerians that the ADC is fully committed to youth inclusion in its policies and leadership structure.

David Mark, who was represented by Salihu Lukman, a former APC National Vice Chairman (North-West), stated that the party is building a structure where the voice of every member, particularly the youth, counts.

“We will uphold collective leadership at every level, ensuring every member has a voice. This is your party, truly owned by its members, without exception,” Mark said.

He emphasized that ADC’s grassroots operations will reflect modern realities, ensuring more robust engagement from the local to national level.

“Our grassroots structures will be revitalised to reflect modern realities. From polling units and wards to the national stage, every organ of our party will be re-energised for active participation.”

Mark further urged young Nigerians to see the ADC as a welcoming platform, not just in principle, but in practice.

“To our young people: ADC is your home. We are opening the doors for the next generation, not as a gesture, but as a commitment. Our policies, candidate selection, and leadership roles will ensure real inclusion of youths and women, not tokenism. That is why 35% of leadership positions are reserved for women, and leadership roles will include Nigerians under 40.”

He also reiterated the party’s ideology-driven approach, promising a break from transactional and elitist politics.

“Nigerians will know ADC as a party driven by clear ideology, progressive policies, and patriotic governance. We will not leave leadership direction to chance.”

Mark encouraged youth to join the party’s movement, saying it stands for equity, fairness, and national unity.

“On this International Youth Day, I call on all Nigerians to join us. ADC is the party of equal opportunity, where age, gender, religion, or region are never barriers. Our handshake is extended to all—across every divide, because the future we build is one we build together,” he added.

Also speaking at the event, ADC National Youth Leader Balarabe Rufai delivered a scathing critique of the current state of governance and its impact on young Nigerians.

He warned that no national transformation is possible without youth involvement at the grassroots.

“If Nigerian youths cannot transform their streets, they cannot transform the nation,” Rufai said. “Without changing Nigeria, Africa will remain at the mercy of others in shaping its future.”

Highlighting dire statistics, Rufai painted a sobering picture of youth disempowerment, poverty, and government neglect.

“The National Bureau of Statistics reports that 133 million Nigerians are living in multidimensional poverty. Food inflation is over 33%. The National Unemployment Report shows youth unemployment above 53%,” he said.

“UNESCO confirms that over 20 million Nigerian children are out of school, the highest in the world. This is not just a policy failure; it is a moral crime. How can the same leaders who boast about GDP growth ignore the fact that our classrooms are empty while our prisons and streets are full of young people without hope?”

He also cited Nigeria Security Tracker figures showing over 12,000 deaths from violent attacks in 2024 alone, many of them in youth-dominated communities.

“In Zamfara, Katsina, Niger, and Kaduna, rural youth are kidnapped for ransom while urban youth are hunted down in the name of ‘security operations.’ And yet, our so-called leaders spend more money on convoy fuel than on community policing.”

Rufai criticized the SDG framework for ignoring the local realities of African countries and called on the United Nations to take more nuanced, contextual action.

“Under the theme Local Youth Action for SDGs and Beyond, we must confront the hard truth — in Nigeria and across Africa, young people’s efforts toward achieving the SDGs are shackled by bad government policies, poor budgetary allocations, and a lack of political will.”

“With just five years left before 2030, the gap between developed and developing nations is glaring, and a one-size-fits-all SDG framework is failing to address our unique challenges.”

“The African Democratic Congress, guided by its constitution and vision beyond Nigeria, calls on the United Nations to urgently adopt differentiated goals for developed and developing countries so that the realities of poverty, unemployment, insecurity, and educational decline in our societies are not ignored but directly addressed.”

“The youth of Africa cannot continue to be judged by the standards of nations whose histories, economies, and governance structures are worlds apart from ours.”

Emphasizing that the ADC is not beholden to tribal or regional interests, Rufai said the party stands for all Nigerians.

“The ADC’s loyalty lies with Nigeria, not any tribe, region, or the selfish ambitions of a few.”

He also issued a rallying cry to Nigerian youth:

“I am not here to tell you to wait. I am here to tell you that e don reach. As the streets say, no be who first start na him dey finish race. The incumbents may have started with power, but if the youth organise, we will finish with victory.”

“I speak as someone who has queued for fuel at midnight, borrowed to pay school fees, and seen friends take dangerous journeys across the Sahara and Mediterranean because home gave them no reason to stay. These chains can break, but only if the people wearing them rise together.”

Rufai concluded by outlining ADC’s vision to empower youth through concrete actions:

“The ADC is ready to give young Nigerians a seat at the table, not as decoration, but as decision-makers. We will champion policies that create real jobs by investing in agro-processing, renewable energy, and tech startups.”

“We will fund education like our lives depend on it—because they do. We will bring security to our communities not by empty promises, but by empowering local security structures and addressing root causes.”

In celebration of this year’s International Youth Day, the Chairman of Nkanu West Local Government Area, Hon. John Ogbodo, has called on young people across the state to rise above social distractions and take charge of their future by actively contributing to nation-building.

Speaking to newsmen on Tuesday, Hon. Ogbodo praised the resilience and creativity of Nigerian youth, particularly in Nkanu West, but expressed concern about the growing influence of social media trends that, in his words, “often prioritize popularity over purpose.”

“We are celebrating the energy and intelligence of our youth today, but let this not just be a celebration, let it be a wake-up call. Our young people must understand that they are not just leaders of tomorrow; they are leaders of today,” he said.

“Too many brilliant ideas die in silence due to lack of support. So, our commitment is to invest in the future of our youth,” he added.

The Nkanu West council boss also appealed to parents and community leaders to allow youth voices to be heard in local decision-making.

“When we include young people at the table, we get new ideas, new energy, and a future that actually works,” he stated.

International Youth Day is celebrated annually on August 12 to recognize the role of young people in global development.

Former Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has issued a stern warning to the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Anambra State, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, over the unauthorized use of his image in campaign materials.

Ngige expressed his displeasure at campaign posters circulating online, which feature his photograph alongside those of Ukachukwu and his running mate, Senator Uche Ekwunife.

He described the act as misleading and cautioned against any attempt to associate him with the campaign.

The former governor’s reaction was conveyed in a statement released on Tuesday and signed by his Special Assistant on Media Affairs, Hyggy Obialo.

“Our attention has been drawn to the online poster in circulation with the photograph of our principal, His Excellency, Senator Chris Nwabueze Ngige, ‘Onwa-na-etiliora’, featuring together with the Anambra State APC governorship candidate, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu and his deputy, Senator Uche Ekwunife,” the statement read.

“We want to use this medium to inform the general public that neither the consent nor approval of our principal was sought and/or obtained, respectively, before the said publication was disseminated to the general public.”

The statement emphasized that Ngige has stepped back from partisan politics to take a well-earned break after over two decades of public service.

“We further wish to inform the general public, that Senator Chris Nwabueze Ngige, a former Governor of Anambra State (2003–2006), former Senator who represented Anambra State Central Senatorial District in the seventh Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (2011–2015), and a two term Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment (2015–2023), is on sabbatical from active partisan politics for now as he is taking his well-deserved rest after 25 years of active partisan politics and public service.”

The statement concluded with an appeal to those behind the posters to honor Ngige’s decision to stay out of politics.

“We, therefore, advise the perpetrators to respect the wishes of our principal, who has indicated in many fora that he is out of partisan politics for now.”

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (Babachir Lawal) has outlined a new northern political strategy ahead of the 2027 presidential election, advocating for unity and shared regional interests over traditional political allegiances.

Speaking on Channels Television, Lawal made clear that his previous support for Peter Obi in 2023 might not carry over, noting that political realities have shifted.

“They say a day in politics is long. Things have changed. The parameters we used to evaluate our candidate in 2023 are going to be different this time… Things have moved on, so we’ll see when we get there. We’ll see how it goes.”

Lawal reaffirmed his belief that Obi was the rightful winner of the 2023 election.

“Obi was the ‘true winner’ of the 2023 presidential election,” he said.

He revealed that a coalition of northern politicians, operating outside government, has formed the Nigerian People’s Consultative Political Forum (North). Their aim is to address regional disunity by voting as one.

“We had a group of people who started meeting with like minds… almost every significant northern politician who is not in government attends our meetings… So, we agreed that we must vote as a bloc. If we don’t vote as a bloc, we will not be able to achieve our goals.”

Lawal emphasized that the North will cast its support for any candidate, regardless of origin who comprehends and will confront their challenges.

“Whoever eventually emerges will only support somebody who understands the problems facing the North and will present them to him, whether the person is a northerner or a southerner, even if he’s from heaven.”

He announced that the bloc has chosen the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its political platform of choice.

“Eventually, we just decided that we can only pursue this if we are in one solid political party. And we all agree this solid political party can only be the ADC.”

Lawal also named prominent figures aligned with the coalition’s strategy, including Rotimi Amaechi, Peter Obi, and Atiku Abubakar, while emphasizing that the 2027 contest should rise “beyond partisan loyalty or ethnic sentiment.”

Five indigenes of Rivers State have filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to halt the proposed local government elections scheduled for August 30, 2025, on the grounds that the state remains under a state of emergency.

The suit, filed on Monday and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1144/2025, lists President Bola Tinubu, Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (retd.), the Rivers State Government and the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) as defendants.

The plaintiffs; Fredrick Ededeh, Benita Samuel, Jane Madubuike, Boma Aggo and Comfort Agbom argue that the prevailing security situation in the state renders it unsafe and unconstitutional to hold elections.

Represented by their counsel, Sunday Ezema, the group contends that the State of Emergency Proclamation issued by the President on March 18, 2025, remains in effect and has not been revoked, as the conditions cited in the declaration, including threats to public order, safety and governance, persist.

“The atmosphere in Rivers State is still hostile, and peace has not been restored,” their motion reads.

“Conducting elections under such conditions would endanger citizens and violate their democratic rights.”

They are asking the court to determine whether any local government election can legally be conducted while a state of emergency is still in force.

The plaintiffs seek the following reliefs:

• A declaration that conditions of insecurity that led to the state of emergency have not ceased;
• A declaration that the President’s failure to revoke or suspend the proclamation means the emergency is still valid;
• A declaration that the Rivers State Government, Ibas, and RSIEC lack the legal authority to conduct elections during this period;
• An order to halt any planned elections, particularly the one scheduled for August 30, 2025;
• And a nullification of any such election if conducted during the emergency period, labelling it as illegal, unconstitutional, and void.

The plaintiffs also reference the previous local government elections, which were nullified by a court under suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, citing procedural irregularities.

As at the time of this report, no date has been fixed for the hearing.