The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has introduced a comprehensive 25-page ethical governance charter titled “The Orange Book,” mandating that all future elected officials on its platform adhere to strict rules of public accountability, personal frugality, and continuity in public infrastructure.
​The document was officially presented during a press conference on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at the ADC National Secretariat in Abuja.
​A centerpiece of The Orange Book is the “Burden of Completion” principle, which addresses Nigeria’s chronic issue of abandoned infrastructure and legislative bills following political transitions.
​Unveiling the charter, ADC National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi criticized the widespread habit of incoming administrations abandoning public projects initiated by predecessors purely out of partisan rivalry.
​”If you look across this country today, Nigeria is like a graveyard of abandoned projects, but ADC obliges people to continue whatever they have started,” Abdullahi stated. “If an ADC senator or a member of the House is pursuing a bill, and for whatever reason he or she does not return, an ADC member taking over has a duty to continue because it represents the agenda of the political party, not the individual.”
​The Orange Book establishes several operational rules designed to dismantle systemic corruption and reduce the cost of governance: The Elimination of Security Votes: The ADC pledges to abolish single-line, un-audited “security votes,” closing a major avenue for discretionary fund diversion.
The charter caps executive convoys, restricts foreign delegation sizes, and restricts government per diems to official Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) scales.
Elected and appointed officials must sign a legally binding personal oath committing to live within their official means. The code explicitly forbids public displays of unexplained lifestyle wealth.
The charter commits the party to dismantle monopolies and cronyism while pursuing a job-led, opportunity-driven economy that directly links education to national productivity and technological development.
​The party confirmed that the charter’s provisions are active and binding, disclosing that all presidential aspirants under its banner signed the code and took a solemn oath prior to primary selections.
​According to party leadership, violations of the code of conduct will subject officials to internal disciplinary proceedings and sanctions under the ADC constitution, creating an enforceable mechanism for citizens and party members to hold leaders directly accountable.
