The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is currently weighing its options following the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stance to de-recognise its leadership and to halt communication with the party.

The ADC on Monday, insisted that there is a deliberate administrative ploy by INEC to prevent the party from fielding candidates in the upcoming elections in 2027.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, yesterday, the party stated that at the heart of this emerging crisis is INEC’s stated position that it will no longer receive any correspondence from the ADC, pending the determination of a matter before the Federal High Court.

Abdullahi said on its face, this may appear procedural but in reality, “it creates a direct and dangerous conflict with the clear timelines imposed by the Electoral Act (2026), which provides defined windows, including the mandatory 21-day notice period and subsequent submission requirements, within which political parties must complete critical electoral processes.”

The election of a substantive National Working Committee (NWC) is an important step towards holding the primaries of the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Our correspondents learnt that consultations are still ongoing among party leaders ahead of the national convention of the party.

Political analysts say only a few options are before the party and they keep closing by the day.

It was learnt that while top members of the party are bent on defying INEC by going ahead with the congresses and national convention, some are suggesting that the party shouldn’t go that way as it might be a booby trap set for them.

Sources said other leaders of the party are of the opinion that the only way they can circumvent INEC is by moving en masse to another party.

The problem with this option, according to inside sources, is that it might take time to build and be recognised by the electorate since they have already gone far with the ADC.

The third option which is yet to get the support of many, Daily Trust gathered, is for the party to boycott the forthcoming elections on grounds that “the ruling party is using INEC to asphyxiate the ADC”.

This option, according to sources, is not receiving much support as it would deprive those aspiring for elective positions the chance to contest in the next general elections. Due to this, the party’s leaders have been holding series of meetings to thrash things out.

National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, when contacted, said he could not disclose what the party was planning.

But former National Chairman of the party, Dr Ralph Nwosu, said all the institutions, like INEC are democratic and are owned by the Nigerian people.

“If they are owned by Nigerian people, any presentations we are making, if INEC refuses to receive it, we are going to advertise them in all Nigerian newspapers and put them on all radio stations so that the Nigerian people will see that we are following a transparent process.

Stakeholders at the African Democratic Congress (ADC) National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Abuja, recently.

“Because the institutions are owned by Nigerian people. So, that’s what we are going to do because what INEC is doing is wrong,” he said. He further stated that what the INEC chairman, Joash Amupitan, is doing is wrong.

“He was employed to be chairman of INEC and not as a SAN. Not as a lawyer of INEC and not to represent the Ministry of Justice or any court. If any court gave a judgment, he is supposed to ask the court for interpretation, not to because, he’s a lawyer, do his own interpretation.

“He’s putting his APC agenda into running INEC. And that’s why we said he must recuse himself. He is trying to de-market ADC, trying to rubbish the top quality retired general who did all his due diligence and made sure that everything was okay before he took over the leadership of the party,” he stated.

He explained that, “During our meetings, our NEC, was INEC there? Ask INEC. Was INEC there when we held about five NEC meetings where we followed our constitution? NEC passed a resolution dissolving the former NWC? Our NEC is up to a hundred and something persons. All the state chairmen were there. All the zonal executives were there.

“The NWC, that was being dissolved were there and all of them agreed to dissolve the NWC and the zonal leadership. Which was done and then all of them equally voted, they all voted to elect David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola and other leaders.

“INEC was there. We have certified true copy of that event, written by INEC. We finished that exercise. Two months later, somebody went to court and then you now say that the crisis started when?

“There’s no basis for them to do what they are doing. They are doing something that is criminal but we are going to be accountable to the Nigerian people,” he said.

On whether ADC is considering joining another party, he said the party is not the issue.

“There are people who are scared in the villa who don’t want any coalition. It’s the people who want a coronation. If you continue to fight and run away then they are defeating you already.

“There is nothing as far as the party is concerned. People who are playing the game they know themselves. And you know any political leader who thinks that way has a serious problem.

“But nothing like that is going on in ADC. I told you that the owners of our democracy are Nigerians. We will open up our books to the Nigerian people. Whether INEC likes it or not, Nigerian people are going to record it. We will win the election.

We will make sure that the people will swear in their elected president. The people, even if the court refuses, the people will swear in their elected leaders.”

More allegations

The ADC insisted in a statement yesterday that the electoral body was against its interest because all the actions it took against the party had no basis.

“INEC received a formal notice of the July 29, 2025 National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the ADC. It deployed officials to monitor that meeting. It documented the proceedings and received formal reports from its field officers. Following this, INEC updated its internal records and uploaded the names of the new leadership, including Senator David Mark as National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary,” the party stated.

The ADC added that the position of the party is not just claims, “They are facts contained in INEC’s own records”.

In addition, the commission’s sworn affidavit before the Federal High Court, in its response to Nafiu Bala Gombe on 12th September 2025, particularly in Clauses 14 to 19, affirms key legal principles: that the leadership transition had already been completed and recognised, that such internal party matters fall outside the scope of judicial interference, that completed acts cannot be reversed by injunction, and also recognises the David Mark-led NWC.

“Yet, despite this clear documentary trail, INEC has now taken the position that it will no longer receive any correspondence from the ADC pending the determination of a matter before the Federal High Court. This is where the contradiction becomes dangerous.”

The statement said the Electoral Act imposes strict timelines on political parties, including the 21-day notice requirement and submission deadlines. “INEC itself has fixed May 10 as the deadline for the submission of relevant documents. However, by refusing to receive communication from the ADC within this same period, the commission is effectively preventing the party from complying with the law.

“In simple terms, INEC is effectively threatening that unless the courts deliver judgment on the ADC leadership issue by May 10, it will prevent the ADC from producing candidates. This places the ADC in an impossible position and creates a clear pathway to artificial non-compliance, which can then be used to justify excluding the party from fielding candidates. That is the landmine.”

The party said INEC has claimed that its April 1, decision was taken to avoid rendering the proceedings before the Federal High Court nugatory. “The reality is the opposite. By intervening in a matter already before the court and issuing a pronouncement with clear legal and operational consequences, the commission has itself undermined the very process it claims to protect.

“What is even more concerning is that this position contradicts INEC’s own prior conduct and legal stance. The same commission that monitored, documented, recognised, and swore to an affidavit confirming the ADC leadership is now acting in a way that contradicts its earlier position.

“We, therefore, call on the commission to immediately reverse this position, resume the acceptance of all lawful correspondence from the ADC, and uphold its constitutional responsibility to ensure a level playing field for all political parties.

“We also call on Nigerians to be wary and remain vigilant about these dangerous machinations to subvert Nigeria’s democracy and impose a civilian dictatorship on the country.”

ADC youths threaten civic action against INEC

The Youth Wing of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has also given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) three days to recognise the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the party or face a civic action and shutting down of their offices across the country.

Addressing a press conference at the ADC National Secretariat in Abuja on Monday, Comrade Balarabe Rufa’i, ADC National Youth Leader, warned that the action of INEC has put Nigeria’s democracy in crisis.

Flanked by other leaders of the party, Rufa’i also called on the National Assembly to immediately call the INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, to order, saying that democracy must be defended with action and not silence.

While asking INEC to immediately reverse itself and apologise to Nigerians, the Youth Wing said “Institutions meant to defend the will of the people are now being compromised, weakened, and weaponised against democracy itself. Let us be clear, this is not a warning, this is a crisis.”

The youths said their position is clear and that is, the leadership inaugurated on July 29, 2025, led by Senator David Mark, remains the only legitimate leadership of the ADC, adding that “Any attempt to alter this without a final court judgment is illegal, null, void and unacceptable.”

They stressed that their position is premised on the fact that on July 29, 2025, ADC held a lawful NEC meeting under the full supervision of INEC and the meeting dissolved the previous National Working Committee (NWC) and produced a new leadership led by Senator David Mark.

“INEC received the outcome, verified the process, officially uploaded and recognised this leadership on September 9, 2025 There was no dispute, no objection, no ambiguity. So, what changed”, he queried.

‘INEC is part of the problem’

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kano State, Ibrahim Al-Amin Little, has tackled INEC’s stance not to attend national convention, saying the law only asked parties to notify the commission and not seek its approval. The chieftain also said his position aligns fully with that of the party’s national leadership, insisting that INEC has no legal basis to refuse recognition of the party’s convention.

He explained that the law only requires parties to notify it of their conventions, not to seek its approval.

“There is no law that said INEC must recognise a party’s convention before it stands, we were only told to give them notice and we did that already,” he said.

Little further argued that the court judgments cited by INEC were misinterpreted, noting that the directive to maintain the status quo meant that the ADC leadership under David Mark remains in place until a final decision is reached.

He stressed that the party would continue to pursue its case through the courts, even up to the Supreme Court, and ruled out any possibility of defecting to another party.

“There is nothing like defection to another party. We are confident we will eventually emerge victorious, so the issue of switching to another party does not even arise,” Little added.

The ADC Youth Network in Gombe State has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Nafiu Bala, demanding that he formally admits his resignation from the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The group, led by its convener, Abubakar Hamma Galafi, made the demand while briefing pressmen. The group accused Bala of undermining the party’s internal democracy and aligning with forces allegedly working to destabilise the ADC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The youths described the crisis as more than an internal disagreement, saying it has evolved into what they termed “a deliberate assault on the democratic values” upon which the party was founded.

Galafi alleged that despite legal pronouncements and laid-down party procedures, Bala had continued to engage in actions capable of creating confusion and weakening the party’s unity.

“Instead of resolving disputes through constitutional means, he chose a path of chaos, confusion, and manipulation,” Galafi said.

The ADC youths alleged that certain external forces, including elements linked to the ruling party, may be using Bala to destabilise the opposition party from within.

The group declared its stance against any attempt to compromise the party’s independence, unity, and core principles.

“We reject any narrative that legitimises actions that threaten the independence of our party. We also reject any alignment that places personal ambition above party ideals,” Galafi stated.

Decision will only make ADC more popular – Dukawa

A Kano-based political analyst, Associate Professor Sa’idu Ahmad Dukawa, said INEC’s refusal to recognise the ADC convention will not weaken the party, instead will boost its popularity among Nigerians.

Dukawa, who lectures at the Department of Political Science, Bayero University Kano (BUK), argued that the decision would be interpreted by the public as an attempt to stifle opposition voices, thereby, generating sympathy for the ADC.

“Whatever the case, the impression by the general public is that the opposition is being muzzled by the federal government. As such, they end up enjoying the sympathy of the public,” he said.

He explained that the controversy could serve as a rallying point for the ADC, as voters may see the party as a victim of political persecution. According to him, this perception would enhance the party’s credibility and attract more supporters who are dissatisfied with the current political climate.

The political scientist further advised the ADC to mobilise public opinion against INEC’s stance by ensuring that all communication channels are filled with objections to the commission’s decision.

He noted that such a strategy would expose what he described as a hidden agenda and put pressure on the electoral body to reconsider its position.

Dukawa also suggested that the ADC could explore alliances with other political parties such as the PRP or Labour Party, to strengthen its position.

He maintained that even if the ADC chooses to ignore INEC and continues with its political activities, the commission would eventually be forced to retreat once it realises that the people are solidly behind the party. (Daily Trust)

•The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark (left) with party members during the flag off of the Membership Revalidation, Mobilisation and Registration exercise in Abuja recently

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