After INEC de-recognized both factions on Wednesday, April 1, citing the Court of Appeal’s March 12 ruling, the crisis plaguing the African Democratic Congress (ADC) took on a new form.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that the party had been struggling with internal conflicts and a leadership struggle prior to Senator David Mark’s appointment as chairman, despite assertions that the crisis shaking the ADC began as a result of his appointment.
How it started?
Ralph Nwosu, a former National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), allegedly extended his tenure, which birthed to conflicts and court proceedings in the political party. Nwosu reportedly suspended and expelled some state chairmen who rejected his attempt to remain chairman. He later resigned and endorsed an interim leadership headed by David Mark, and the process was monitored by INEC in July 2025.
The presidential candidate of ADC in 2023 election, Kachikwu approached court to seek a clarification on the expiration of former chairman Ralph Nwosu’s tenure, with allegation that Nwosu sold the party to politicians seeking a new platform.
Aggrieved party chieftains and state chairmen suspended or expelled by Nwosu, formed factions and challenged Mark’s leadership legitimacy. Nafiu Bala, a former deputy national chairman, contested that Mark’s appointment was illegal, citing constitutional irregularities.
The Bala-led group and David Mark-led group sparked a new crisis as both parties claimed control of the party, leading to a protracted court dispute. On September 2, 2025, Bala approached a federal high court in Abuja (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025), seeking to stop Mark’s team members from parading themselves as party leaders. He also sought an order to restrain INEC from recognising them and to compel recognition of himself as acting national chairman.
He also filed motions to prevent the party from holding meetings, congresses, or conventions until the matter was resolved. The motion ex parte was heard on September 4, 2025, and Emeka Nwite, the trial judge, ordered that the defendants, including INEC, be given notice to show cause why the move ex parte should not be granted.
Mark, dissatisfied with an interim ruling, filed an appeal challenging the federal high court’s jurisdiction to hear Bala’s case. However, on March 12, 2026, the court of appeals dismissed Mark’s whole case, finding it incompetent and unmeritorious.
The former Senate President, David Mark and embattled National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), while reacting to the development disclosed that Nafiu Bala resigned from the position of Deputy National Chairman on 17th May, 2025.
“His resignation was also duly transmitted to INEC on the 12th of August, 2025. Regardless of his resignation, he decided to approach the courts on September 2, 2025, four clear months after his resignation, seeking to be recognised as the Chairman of the ADC.”, he further clarified.
On April 1, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced its decision to derecognise the two factions of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by David Mark and Nafiu Bala.
The ADC faction, led by Mark, a former Senate president, challenged INEC’s interpretation of the appeal court’s decision, accusing the electoral authority of operating under external pressure.
In a same vein, Dumebi Kachikwu, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate for 2023, is currently leading a faction that opposes the leadership of David Mark and Nafiu Bala Gombe.
According to Kachikwu, David Mark and Nafiu Bala are attempting to hijack the party for their own personal gain.
He further claimed that a group of politicians, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, is behind the takeover bid, with the goal of using the party to advance their presidential ambitions in 2027.
