The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the position of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on its protracted leadership crisis, accusing the electoral body of misinterpreting a recent Court of Appeal ruling and yielding to political pressure.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said INEC’s decision to suspend engagement with factions within the party was inconsistent with both the facts of the case and the intent of the appellate court’s judgment.
Abdullahi alleged that the commission acted under pressure from a “jittery government” unsettled by the ADC’s growing political influence, claiming there were deliberate attempts to weaken opposition parties and impose a one-party state.
“We reject INEC’s interpretation of the Court of Appeal ruling. The commission’s statement is riddled with contradictions and does not reflect the reality of the situation,” he said.
He added that the party is currently reviewing its legal and political options and would soon communicate its next course of action, urging members and supporters to remain calm and united.
INEC Withdraws Recognition Amid Legal Dispute
INEC had earlier announced that it would no longer accept correspondences from either faction of the party—one led by former Senate President David Mark and the other by Rafiu Bala Gombe—pending the resolution of the matter before the Federal High Court.
The commission’s position, conveyed by its Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Mohammed Kudu, followed a review of the Court of Appeal judgment delivered on March 12, 2026.
According to INEC, the decision was necessitated by conflicting legal correspondences received from both camps regarding the party’s leadership. While one group cautioned against recognising Gombe as acting national chairman due to ongoing litigation, the other urged enforcement of the appellate court’s ruling in his favour.
Legal Background
The dispute stems from a leadership tussle that followed the resignation of the party’s former national chairman, Ralph Okey Nwosu, in July 2025. A new National Working Committee (NWC) subsequently emerged, backing Mark as leader.
However, Gombe, who served as vice-national chairman, contested the development, insisting he should have assumed leadership in accordance with the party’s constitution. He later approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking recognition as acting national chairman.
Although the lower court entertained his application, Mark’s faction challenged the jurisdiction of the court at the Court of Appeal. On March 12, 2026, the appellate court dismissed the appeal and issued preservatory orders, effectively maintaining the status quo pending full determination of the case.
INEC’s Position
INEC stated that it would strictly adhere to the appellate court’s directive by maintaining the “status quo ante bellum”—the state of affairs before the suit was filed on September 2, 2025.
The commission further resolved to refrain from taking any action that could prejudice the ongoing proceedings at the trial court or render its eventual decision ineffective.
The unfolding crisis within the ADC adds to growing concerns over internal party stability within Nigeria’s opposition space, as stakeholders await judicial clarity on the party’s leadership.