The refusal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise any faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has intensified an ongoing leadership dispute within the party.
The disagreement centres on competing claims between the former senate president, David Mark, and the former deputy national chairman, Nafiu Bala, both asserting authority over the party structure.
The development has created uncertainty within the ADC as political actors prepare for the 2027 general election cycle.
The roots of the crisis can be traced to attempts by opposition figures to form a unified political platform ahead of the next national polls.
In 2025, several prominent politicians across party lines began aligning with the ADC as part of broader coalition-building efforts.
Among those associated with the movement are the former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar, alongside other former governors and political office holders from different regions.
The realignment was seen as a strategy to consolidate opposition strength against the ruling All Progressives Congress.
However, internal disagreements soon emerged following changes in the party’s leadership structure.
On July 2, 2025, the former national chairman, Ralph Nwosu, announced the resignation of the national working committee, creating space for a transitional leadership arrangement.
The interim structure placed the former senate president, David Mark, at the helm, a move that was initially presented as part of a reorganisation process.
The decision was later challenged by Nafiu Bala, who insisted that he did not resign his position and remained a serving officer of the party.
Bala argued that the party’s constitution entitled him to assume leadership following the exit of the chairman, thereby rejecting the interim arrangement.
The disagreement soon escalated into legal action, marking a turning point in the crisis.
On September 2, 2025, Bala filed a suit at the federal high court in Abuja, seeking to restrain Mark’s group from presenting themselves as party leaders.
He also requested that the court compel INEC to recognise him as the acting national chairman of the ADC.
In addition, Bala sought orders to halt party activities, including meetings and congresses, pending the resolution of the suit.
The trial judge, Emeka Nwite, subsequently directed that all parties be notified to respond to the application.
Following the proceedings at the lower court, the dispute moved to the appellate level after Mark challenged aspects of the case.
On March 12, 2026, the court of appeal dismissed the appeal filed by Mark, ruling that it lacked merit and did not meet procedural requirements.
The appellate court, led by Uchechukwu Onyemenam, held that there was no substantive decision from the lower court to support the appeal.
It further noted that the appeal arose from an interlocutory stage, for which proper legal steps had not been followed.
The court also observed that the issue of jurisdiction remained unresolved at the trial court and could not be determined at that stage.
As part of its ruling, the court directed all parties to maintain the existing situation pending the final determination of the case.
It also ordered an accelerated hearing of the substantive matter and awarded costs against Mark.
Despite the ruling, the court did not decide on the substantive question of leadership within the ADC.
This left the core issue unresolved, with both factions continuing to assert their positions.
In response to the developments, INEC stated that it had received conflicting communications from the rival groups.
The commission said it reviewed the court decisions and resolved to maintain neutrality in line with judicial directives.
The commissioner for information and voter education, Mohammed Haruna, said the commission would not engage either faction at this stage.
He added that INEC would refrain from monitoring party activities until the court reaches a final decision on the dispute.
The commission emphasised that its position was guided by the need to avoid actions that could interfere with ongoing judicial proceedings.
Meanwhile, the national publicity secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, indicated that party activities would continue despite INEC’s stance.
He maintained that the ADC would proceed with its congresses and convention regardless of the commission’s participation.
The unfolding situation has placed the party in a state of uncertainty as stakeholders await judicial clarification.
Political analysts note that the outcome of the case could shape the party’s internal structure ahead of the 2027 elections.
They also observe that prolonged disputes may affect the party’s ability to function effectively within the evolving political landscape.
For now, the leadership question remains unresolved, with legal proceedings expected to determine the future direction of the ADC.
