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The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has taken a legal turn, with the party heading to the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge what it describes as INEC’s interference in its internal affairs.
At the centre of the dispute is the removal of Senator David Mark and former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC’s) official portal as National Chairman and National Secretary of the party.
In a suit filed by Mark’s counsel, Sulaiman Usman (SAN), the ADC is asking the court to compel INEC to restore the party’s National Working Committee as it existed before the crisis escalated.
The legal action follows INEC’s decision on April 1 to delist members of the party’s leadership, a move the Mark camp insists runs contrary to a subsisting Court of Appeal judgment which ordered parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum the last uncontested leadership structure.
What is playing out is more than a routine party disagreement. It is a full-blown struggle for control ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Two major factions have now emerged one aligned with David Mark and another led by Nafiu Gombe both laying claim to the party’s national leadership and pushing for recognition by INEC.
While the matter is in court, tensions spilled onto the streets of Abuja, where the Gombe faction staged a protest at INEC headquarters, demanding to be recognised as the legitimate leadership.
Gombe, who is also contesting the chairmanship position, warned against what he described as attempts by “political opportunists” to hijack the party structure.
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‘We move on, with or without INEC’
Despite the uncertainty, the party’s founding chairman, Ralph Nwosu, made it clear that the ADC will not put its activities on hold.
According to him, preparations for congresses and the national convention are already underway, with or without INEC’s participation.
“We will not allow INEC to derail our programmes,” Nwosu said, insisting that the party has complied with electoral laws and duly notified the commission of its schedule.
He added that the upcoming convention will go ahead as planned, where the party hopes to validate its leadership structure and set the tone for 2027.
Beyond the courtroom drama, the crisis is exposing deeper political calculations within the opposition space.
ADC chieftain, Kenneth Okonkwo, went a step further, accusing the ruling APC of attempting to weaken opposition parties ahead of the next general elections by exploiting internal divisions.
Whether or not that claim holds, one thing is clear the fight for control of smaller but strategic parties like the ADC has already begun, and 2027 may be closer than it looks.
For now, the court will decide the immediate question: who INEC should recognise.
