By Sylvia Akpan
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has unveiled its campaign agenda of economic recovery, political restructuring, security reform and accountable leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections.
These and many other strategies were the highlights of Tuesday, August 25, 2026, political gathering held in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
Speaking during the event, the Cross River State Governorship candidate of ADC, Amb. Nkoyo Toyo, said the party’s presidential campaign had commenced in the state and would soon extend across communities.
Toyo urged the media to amplify the party’s message, saying, “please feel free to take our story far and wide”.
She said the ADC would present its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as an alternative to the policies of the present administration, which she argued had increased economic pressure on Nigerians, households and businesses.
According to Toyo, Atiku’s economic recovery agenda is centered on transitioning Nigeria from an import-dependent and consumption-driven economy to one driven by production, manufacturing, job creation and exports.
“The country must move from an import-dependent, consumption-driven economy towards production, manufacturing, job creation, and export-oriented economy,” she said.
The ADC governorship candidate linked economic recovery to political restructuring, advocating the devolution of powers to states and local communities rather than the creation of additional government institutions.
“Restructuring should be the devolution of power. You must take power downwards, not the multiplication of bureaucracies,” Toyo stated.
She called for genuine fiscal federalism and resource control, stressing that increased allocations from the Federal Government should not be mistaken for fiscal autonomy.
“A larger allocation from Abuja should not be confused with fiscal federalism. Fiscal federalism is when you control your own money,” she said.
On insecurity, Toyo advocated a combination of professional policing, intelligence gathering, technology and economic development, maintaining that security challenges could not be sustainably addressed through military and police deployment alone without tackling poverty, unemployment and rural underdevelopment.
“No economic recovery can succeed in an environment of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence, and attacks on livelihoods.”
The former federal Lawmaker stressed the need for proper regulation, training and accountability under any proposed state police system, warning that policing reforms without adequate safeguards could create additional challenges.
Toyo called for greater integrity and transparency among public office holders, arguing that citizens should be able to scrutinize the credentials and records of those entrusted with political power.
“A democracy cannot demand loyalty from citizens while treating questions about credentials and records of its leaders as matters that can be traceably ignored,” she stated.
She said the ADC would pursue an inclusive economy in which economic growth and prosperity are broadly shared, rather than concentrated among a few individuals.
“Investment must be inclusive, growth must be shared, and prosperity must belong to all of us,” Toyo declared.
She urged Nigerians to assess the performance of the present administration by determining whether the economy was genuinely working for them and whether states were becoming less dependent on Abuja.
“It is not our business to join APC and redistribute poverty. It is our business to make sure that we take out poverty and replace that poverty with wealth,” she said.
Meanwhile, one of the resource persons and leaders at the event, James Otudor, delivered a presentation titled “Knowledge Titbits and Messages,” focusing on campaign strategies, regulatory challenges and technology-driven campaign management.
Otudor highlighted challenges associated with the approval of campaign materials, noting that the conventional Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) approval process could take about 14 days and cost approximately ₦50,000 per artwork, while fast-track approval within 48 hours could cost between ₦300,000 and ₦500,000.
He also identified social media advertising, direct mobile marketing and branded promotional materials such as T-shirts and caps as alternative campaign channels.
Otudor introduced the “Rise Up Nigeria” platform, which he said was designed to centralize campaign operations, coordinate volunteers, facilitate bulk communication, verify volunteer data, track ward and polling-unit targets, and monitor election results in real time.
“Rise Up Nigeria is designed to centralize and automate campaign management, giving candidates real-time access to their volunteers, communication channels, voting targets and election monitoring tools,” he said.
The Chairman of the occasion, Ntufam Ekpo Okon, urged ADC members and candidates to remain united, resolute and committed to the party’s mission of reclaiming Nigeria.
Okon said the country had reached a critical point where citizens must take responsibility for determining its future.
“Moments come when citizens must direct the course of their lives. Nigeria is at that moment right now,” he said.
He criticized the rising cost of living, Naira devaluation and fuel subsidy removal, arguing that the economic situation had eroded the purchasing power of Nigerians.
He questioned the impact of wage increases, noting that a worker earning ₦70,000 could hardly be considered better off when a bag of rice costs about ₦65,000.
Okon also advocated a review of the fuel subsidy policy in view of Nigeria’s increasing domestic refining capacity and expressed concerns over the student loan scheme and the country’s rising debt profile.
He urged party members not to be intimidated by political opponents and charged them to remain vigilant in protecting their votes.
“Stand firm. Stand firm, and we will go into this election ready to protect our votes. Don’t allow anybody to intimidate you. When the votes count, they will leave those offices,” he said.
In her vote of thanks, the ADC Women Leader, Lady Christabel Kasang, thanked party leaders, prospective legislative candidates, advisers, members of the State Working Committee and other participants for attending the gathering.
Kasang pledged to act on recommendations made during the event and use social media to advance the party’s objectives.
She urged members to remain steadfast and return to their respective constituencies with confidence.
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