THE African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said it would proceed with its planned congresses and national convention despite the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) decision to stop recognising the party’s leadership, led by former Senate President, David Mark.
The ICIR reported that citing a recent Appeal Court ruling, INEC removed all ADC leaders from its portal on Wednesday April 1.
Reacting to the decision, the party accused the electoral body of bias and undue interference in its internal affairs.
The ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, revealed this during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Thursday, April 2, where he maintained that ADC had fulfilled all legal requirements, including notifying INEC ahead of its scheduled activities.
“We have given INEC 21 days’ notice. They have accepted the notice. So, whether they come and continue with our congresses, we’ll continue with our convention,” Abdullahi said.
In its decision on Wednesday, the commission said it would no longer recognise Mark or his team as officials of the party pending the final determination of a case over the party’s leadership, currently before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Abdullahi, however, argued that INEC’s interpretation of the Appeal Court’s order over the party’s leadership crisis was flawed and politically motivated.
He accused the commission of abandoning neutrality and aligning with external interests to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Today, INEC has been bamboozled. INEC has been intimidated. INEC has succumbed to intimidation, and they are determined to coronate President Bola Tinubu.”
The ADC spokesperson explained that the party had followed due process in its leadership transition, noting that the former chairman had resigned and that INEC was duly informed.
According to him, the electoral umpire was recognising rival claims and creating confusion within the party.
He stressed that the disputes over party leadership remained internal matters that should not be subject to external interference.
Abdullahi insisted that the Court of Appeal’s directive to maintain the status quo did not justify INEC’s decision to alter the party’s leadership records.
He further alleged that recent developments were part of a broader political strategy to undermine credible opposition ahead of the next general elections.
“The most important point today is that all this is part of an orchestration by the ruling party to destabilise. It is very clear, INEC has shown its hand that it is biased, All this points to INEC trying to create a case. We can see our democracy opening into our very eyes. And we’re asking for proof as if we are foreigners. It is very clear what is going on and it should concern everybody.”
Abdullahi, however, reiterated that the ADC remained focused on its internal processes and would not be deterred.
He stressed that the party’s congresses and convention were critical steps in strengthening its structure and preparing for future elections.
The ICIR reported earlier on Thursday that lawyers condemned the INEC’s decision. They described the commission’s position on the ADC leadership as a threat to the nation’s democracy and an attempt to ensure only the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is the only major political party that will participate in the 2027 general elections.
The ICIR reports that the ADC has been widely seen as the only major opposition to challenge the APC which produced President Bola Tinubu in 2023.
Tinubu is currently gearing up to seek re-election, and many Nigerians believe the ADC is the only viable opposition to the APC, given that 32 of Nigeria’s 36 governors are currently in the APC.
Despite the influx of the Nigeria governors into the APC, prominent politicians, including former vice president Atiku Abubakar, former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, former secretary to the government of the federation, Babachir Lawal, former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwanso, former minister of justice and attorney-general of the federation, Abubakar Malami, and former minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi are among the leading figures in the ADC.
Meanwhile, there are concerns that the ADC may not participate in the 2027 polls should the case in court lingers and INEC refuses to change its position on not recognising any of the party’s leaders.
According to the INEC timetable, political parties are to conduct their primaries between April 23 and May 30, 2026.
The ADC’s failure to resolve its leadership crisis will mean that the APC goes to the poll without a major challenge, as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), once branded as Africa’s largest political party, has seen its membership depleted by mass defections and currently faces similar leadership crisis.
Mustapha Usman is an investigative journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: musman@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M