The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, has called on opposition leaders to unite in what he described as a “national rescue mission” to address worsening insecurity, economic hardship and democratic decline in Nigeria.
Speaking at a summit of opposition figures, Mark said the gathering was a response to “our nation’s call to patriotic duty,” urging participants to rise above partisan interests and personal ambitions.
“Our gathering here today is an urgent response to our nation’s call to patriotic duty. My prayer is that history will remember us, that when the nation cried out to be rescued, we answered,” he said.
The former Senate President painted a grim picture of the country’s security situation, citing rising killings, kidnappings and widespread fear across communities.
“In 2025 alone, Nigeria recorded more than 12,000 conflict-related deaths… At least 15 Nigerians are killed daily, while about 19 people are abducted,” Mark said, adding that “fear has taken the place of freedom, and uncertainty has replaced hope.”
He accused the Federal Government of failing in its primary responsibility to protect citizens, describing its response as inadequate and indifferent.
“We are a nation that is constantly in mourning, yet the government carries on with a shocking indifference as if nothing is wrong,” he said.
“While these killings and kidnappings continue relentlessly, the APC-led government is behaving as if all is well.”
Mark also alleged that democratic institutions were under threat, warning against what he termed a deliberate attempt to impose a one-party state.
“The ruling party has done everything to deny the people of Nigeria the right to choose. They want to foist a one-party state on Nigeria,” he said. “The move towards a one-party state is real and it will not happen in our generation.”
He stressed that no single opposition party could confront the ruling system alone, calling for a broad coalition anchored on trust, transparency and shared purpose.
“We cannot confront the future as fragmented entities. We must be united to salvage our nation,” he said. “There must be no hidden agendas. The success of our collective effort depends on our ability to build and sustain trust.”
The ADC chairman further criticised what he described as government interference in opposition parties, labeling it “tyranny” rather than strategy. “They call what they are doing to opposition political parties ‘strategy’. I call it tyranny,” he declared.
On the economy, Mark said recent changes in the government’s economic management team amounted to an admission of failure.
“When a system is functioning effectively, you do not replace leadership. Reshuffling the cabinet at this late hour cannot save them from the verdict of the people,” he said.
He also expressed concern over the credibility of the electoral process, alleging that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had lost public confidence.
“When the referee clearly and proudly wears the jersey of one of the teams… the legitimacy of the entire process is undermined,” Mark said.
“Nigerians have lost confidence in the electoral body. INEC is no longer an impartial umpire.” Mark urged opposition leaders to seize what he described as a defining moment in Nigeria’s history by prioritising unity and national interest.
“Let this summit go down in history as the moment when everything changed… a movement that will restore the dignity of our democracy, secure the lives of our people, and rebuild the foundations of our nation,” he said. He expressed optimism that a united opposition could not be stopped.
“If we stand together with conviction, discipline, and sincerity, no force will be strong enough to stop the will of the Nigerian people,” Mark added.
