The faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by David Mark has rejected the position of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the party’s leadership crisis.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s publicity secretary, accused INEC of misinterpreting the Court of Appeal ruling.
He claimed the electoral body acted under pressure from the government, which he said is worried about the growing strength of the opposition.
Abdullahi said INEC’s statement contained contradictions and did not reflect the true situation. He added that the party believes INEC has taken sides against the interest of Nigerians.
The ADC said it is currently reviewing its options and will soon decide on its next move. Party members were urged to remain calm and wait for further instructions.
Background of the Dispute
Earlier, INEC announced that it would stop dealing with both factions of the ADC for now. This decision followed its review of a Court of Appeal judgement delivered on March 12, 2026.
INEC said it received two conflicting letters regarding the party’s leadership. One letter warned the commission not to recognise Nafiu Bala Gombe as acting chairman because the matter is still in court.
The other letter asked INEC to enforce the Court of Appeal ruling, which supports Gombe’s position.
Due to these conflicting claims, INEC said it would not recognise either side or monitor any party activities until the Federal High Court gives a final decision.
INEC’s Position
INEC explained that the current leadership crisis started after a party meeting in July 2025, where a new leadership led by David Mark emerged. However, Gombe insisted he should lead the party after the former chairman stepped down.
The case is now in court, and INEC says it will remain neutral. The commission added that it will maintain the situation as it was before the court case began and avoid taking any action that could affect the final judgement.
INEC also urged political parties to act responsibly and not disrupt preparations for the 2027 general elections.
