The African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Thursday officially commenced its membership revalidation and online registration exercise in Enugu State, marking a significant step in its organizational restructuring. The event was led by Barrister Sunday Okereke, Chairman of the Enugu State Membership Mobilisation, Revalidation and Registration Committee. This initiative represents the party's effort to modernize its membership base and solidify its presence in the southeastern political arena.
A central feature of this registration drive is the introduction of new membership cards embedded with unique identification codes. According to the party, these new cards will supersede and invalidate all previously issued membership cards, effectively creating a fresh, verifiable database. To ensure integrity and prevent duplication, the registration process mandates the use of the National Identification Number (NIN) for every new or revalidating member. This move ties party membership to a national biometric database, a first for many Nigerian political parties.
The push for a renewed membership base occurs against a backdrop of political realignments. In a related development, the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, announced his decision on Thursday to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Dickson, who is the Senator representing Bayelsa West, stated his intention to join the newly registered Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). He made this declaration during a media briefing held in the nation's capital, Abuja.
However, a conflict arises regarding the name of this new political entity. While Dickson and other sources refer to it as the 'Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC)', the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has no officially registered party by that exact name on its list. The correct name of a recently registered party is believed to be the 'National Democratic Congress (NDC)'. This discrepancy highlights potential confusion in the reporting of the new party's official title and its legal standing.
In a separate policy domain, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) provided clarification on Thursday regarding the federal government's cashless policy for airports. FAAN's Managing Director, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, stated that President Bola Tinubu did not necessarily suspend the policy but directed that the implementation process be improved before full enforcement. This policy, which aims to eliminate cash transactions at airports, was initially approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The FEC had previously directed all government agencies to discontinue cash transactions from February 28, setting a clear deadline for the policy's adoption. FAAN's latest statement suggests a tactical pause to address operational challenges rather than a cancellation of the cashless directive. This clarification seeks to balance the push for a modernized financial system within airports with the practical realities of passenger and stakeholder adaptation.
On the international stage, sporting politics took center stage as organisers of the Milan-Cortina Paralympics confirmed that seven countries will boycott the opening ceremony. This protest is a direct response to the International Paralympic Committee's (IPC) decision to allow Russian athletes to compete under their own national flag for the first time since 2014. IPC communications officer Craig Spence named the boycotting nations as Czechia, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine.
The IPC had announced last month that it would permit six Russian and four Belarusian athletes to participate in the Games under their national flags, a significant shift from the 2022 Paralympics where both nations were banned following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This decision has reignited debates over the intersection of sports, politics, and neutrality, with the boycott underscoring the deep divisions that persist. The situation reflects ongoing global tensions and the complex role of international sporting bodies in geopolitical conflicts.
