In a scathing New Year’s assessment of the nation’s trajectory, Senator David Mark, the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has characterized the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) administration as a purveyor of despair.
Issuing a New Year message through his Special Adviser on Media, Paul Mumeh, in Kano on Thursday, the former Senate President didn’t mince words regarding the current administration’s economic direction. He argued that the government’s recent fiscal decisions—marked by aggressive taxation—are effectively dismantling the “Renewed Hope” promise and replacing it with what he termed a era of “renew hopelessness.”
Mark’s address served as a sharp critique of the economic climate that defined 2025. He highlighted the skyrocketing costs of essential commodities, including food and basic medication, alongside the crippling price of transportation that has left many Nigerians stranded.
While the ruling party continues to preach patience, Mark argued that the burden of the state has become too heavy for the ordinary citizen to bear. He described 2025 as a year of unprecedented struggle for most households across the federation.
Attempting to position the ADC as the primary alternative to the status quo, Mark pointed to the formation of the opposition coalition last year as the only significant milestone worth celebrating in an otherwise bleak political landscape.
“Yet, 2025 also brought a defining moment: the launch of Nigeria’s opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on July 2,” Mark stated, framing the merger as a strategic response to the ruling party’s dominance.
Since that merger, Mark claims the movement has gained significant traction, though critics often point to the historical establishment ties of the coalition’s leadership.
“Since we announced the coalition, we have been encouraged by the overwhelming support and enthusiasm of ordinary Nigerians across the length and breadth of our country,” the Chairman added.
Despite his sharp attacks on the APC, Mark adopted a tone of strategic humility when addressing the ADC’s own internal optics, perhaps acknowledging the skepticism many Nigerians feel toward career politicians promising reform.
“We do not claim to be perfect, but do not doubt our sense of duty and our commitment to be on the good side of history,” Mark declared, urging Nigerians to set aside their doubts and join the ADC mission.
The ADC Chairman concluded his message by calling on the populace to exercise their collective power. He suggested that the only way to reverse the current economic “hopelessness” is through a massive shift toward the opposition coalition in the coming political cycle. Whether the ADC can truly offer a departure from the “stringent taxes” it criticizes remains the central question for voters entering 2026.
