The party said the congresses, which are being held at polling unit, ward and local government levels, are aimed at strengthening its grassroots structure ahead of the next electoral cycle.
According to its timetable, the exercise is expected to be concluded before the end of April.
Speaking at a reception held in his honour at the party secretariat in Abakaliki on Friday, the Chairman of the Ebonyi State ADC Congress Committee, Uche Onyeagucha, said the party would not adopt the traditional delegates system for the exercise.
He said candidates would emerge through either consensus arrangements or direct primaries.
“We don’t have national delegates this time around. It is no longer about voting for delegates. We will adopt either consensus or direct primaries. We want to assure members that everything will be done properly and to the satisfaction of all,” Onyeagucha said.
He added that the decision was aimed at strengthening internal democracy and ensuring inclusiveness in the party’s decision-making process.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the State Congress Committee, Sunday Udedibia, said the committee was committed to conducting a credible exercise.
“Our aim is to ensure that, at the end of the day, we do justice to the mandate given to us. In doing so, our party will move forward,” he said.
The State Chairman of ADC, Dr Jennifer Adibe-Nwafor, described the turnout across the 13 LGAs, 171 wards and 2,975 polling units as impressive.
She said party members participated actively in the congresses and urged supporters to remain committed.
“ADC has come to stay in Ebonyi State and in Nigeria. This is a party that is coming to change the narrative in the country. They should stand firm and defend their rights,” she said.
Adibe-Nwafor said the party complied with the provisions of the Electoral Act by notifying the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the exercise, adding that security agencies monitored the process.
She noted that the party would proceed to its primaries scheduled to hold between April 23 and April 30.
On his part, the State Secretary for Electoral Matters and INEC Liaison Officer, Engr Basil Imoke, said the exercise recorded a high turnout in areas he monitored.
“The assessment is very impressive. The turnout was massive, and participation levels were high,” he said.
Some officials were returned through consensus arrangements. In Ezza North Local Government Area, Oshim Ekuma was re-elected as chairman, while Chika Igwe and Peace Nwafor were also returned in Okposi Ward.
In Ekka Ward, Anayo Nwankwo said the adoption of consensus contributed to the peaceful conduct of the exercise.
They described the early commencement of the congresses as part of the party’s efforts to strengthen its structure ahead of the 2027 elections.
