By; Adebanjo Zainab Adejoke
INEC has removed the names of the (National Chairman) David Mark and the (National Secretary) Aregbesola of the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) from their official website. This was made known by INEC through an official press release yesterday.
The leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has taken a dramatic turn following the decision of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to suspend recognition of ADC party officials and halt all formal engagement with the party’s factions.
INEC announced that it would no longer recognize either the David Mark-led faction or the rival group led by Rafiu Bala. The commission also stated that it would suspend all interactions with the party, including monitoring of meetings and conventions, pending the final determination of the case at the Federal High Court.
The crisis has been compounded by conflicting legal pressures. On one hand, legal representatives of opposing factions have issued formal communications urging INEC to either recognise or reject specific leaders. On the other, the judiciary itself has become a battleground, with the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal playing central roles in adjudicating the dispute.
The reference to Suit No. CA/ABJ/145/2026 indicates that appellate proceedings have already introduced further complexity, likely involving questions of party constitutionality, leadership legitimacy, and procedural compliance.
ADC’s Reaction
In a statement released on April 1, 2026, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, criticized INEC’s interpretation of a Court of Appeal ruling, describing it as flawed and contradictory.
He alleged that the commission’s decision was influenced by a government uneasy about the growing strength of the ADC as an opposition party. INEC’s press statement is full of contradictions that fly in the face of both facts and reason. We shall clarify these contradictions for all to see.
What is clear, however, is that INEC has caved to pressure and has chosen to side with the government against the Nigeria people” he said. He argued that the commission’s decision to disengage from both factions of the party lacks logical consistency and contradicts the facts surrounding the case.
