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ADC LEADERSHIP CRISIS DEEPENS AS INEC, CHAIRMEN WITHHOLDS RECOGNITION OF NEW LEADERSHIP
A fresh leadership crisis has hit the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) refused to recognise the party’s newly constituted caretaker committee, while state chairmen denounced the David Mark-led group as an illegitimate coalition attempting to hijack the party through unconstitutional and undemocratic means.
Despite official affirmation by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the African Democratic Congress of a new leadership structure, the Independent National Electoral Commission has maintained that the party’s old national executive committee remains in place, casting doubt on its recognition of the David Mark-led caretaker committee.
INEC has yet to upload Senator David Mark and his interim team to its official portal, signalling non-recognition of the leadership change.A visit to INEC’s portal by The Guardian shows that the ADC’s national officers are still listed as: Ralph Okey Nwosu (National Chairman), Said Baba Abdullahi (National Secretary), Mr Cavin Alagoa (National Treasurer), Mrs Ifeyimwa Ntima (National Financial Secretary), and Ujunwa L. Onwuasoeze (National Legal Adviser).
The portal also still lists the ADC National Secretariat at “No 1 Capital Plaza Nyanyan-Kuru Road, Abuja” with the contact number 08059969415.
This is despite the party’s unveiling of a new interim leadership in Abuja in July 2025 following the resignation of Ralph Okey Nwosu and members of his executive committee.
The ADC had announced a caretaker committee led by former Senate President David Mark as Chairman, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, and Bolaji Abdullahi as Interim National Publicity Secretary.
At its 99th NEC meeting, witnessed by INEC officials, the party adopted two key motions. One, moved by South-West Zonal Vice Chairman, Idowu Rasaq, ratified the reinstatement of previously suspended members, except for Ibe Kachikwu. Another, by National Organising Secretary Suleiman Ibrahim, called for the immediate dissolution of the existing National Working Committee and the establishment of a caretaker committee headed by David Mark.
The new structure also appointed six Deputy National Chairmen from various geopolitical zones. The David Mark-led interim leadership, alongside other members of the NWC, recently met with all 37 state chairmen of the party, including that of the Federal Capital Territory, in Abuja to affirm the new leadership and dispel speculations of internal division. The meeting also sought to consolidate support for the party’s coalition-building efforts and reorganisation plans.
In response to an inquiry by The Guardian on the leadership status of the ADC, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Lawrence, stated simply: “The old exco is still in charge as of today (yesterday).”
MEANWHILE, state chairmen of the party yesterday issued a strong condemnation of the coalition led by former Senate President, David Mark. In a statement jointly signed by the forum leader, Elias Adokwu, and Publicity Secretary, Godwin Alaku, and titled “Rejecting the Political Junta by Defending ADC and Nigeria’s Democracy Against Subversion,” the chairmen described the development as a “blatant and reckless subversion” of the party and Nigeria’s democratic principles.
“The Concerned State Chairmen of the African Democratic Congress have issued a scathing condemnation of what they describe as an ‘orchestrated political coup’ by a coalition led by Senator David Mark, labelling it a ‘blatant and reckless subversion’ of the party and Nigeria’s democratic norms,” the statement read.
Among their grievances, the chairmen accused the coalition of attempting to hijack the ADC through unconstitutional means, alleging “manipulation and backdoor dealings” to forcefully seize control of the party structure.
“We unequivocally condemn in the strongest terms this desperate power grab, which represents not only an aberration of democratic norms but also a grave assault on our collective political values as a nation,” the chairmen stated.
Describing the move as a veiled attempt to promote selfish political ambitions, the ADC chairmen rejected the coalition’s claims of ideological realignment, calling it a “civilian junta” operating outside the boundaries of legality and democratic process.
They added that the attempted takeover was “an insult to all those who believe in and have laboured for democratic governance in Nigeria.” The chairmen further accused the coalition of seeking to destabilise the party for personal gain, describing its actions as driven by “selfish ambition and extra-party inducements” that could fracture the democratic process.
Reaffirming their commitment to democratic ideals, the chairmen declared that the ADC remains a party anchored on the rule of law, ideological clarity, and peaceful political engagement. They stressed that the party would not be used as a platform for “political mercenaries or ideological impostors.”
They also questioned the credibility and electoral value of the coalition, challenging its leaders to demonstrate their legitimacy through democratic means.
“The ADC is not for sale, not for hijack, and certainly not a dumping ground for discredited power brokers,” the chairmen declared. The group further urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to reject any attempt to legitimise what they called an “illegitimate junta.”
They called on Nigerians and civil society organisations to resist what they described as “creeping authoritarianism” and urged law enforcement agencies to investigate what they termed an unlawful attempt to destabilise the party.
“We, the legitimate custodians of the ADC structure across all states of the federation, reject this illegitimate junta,” the statement concluded.
Okorie supports INEC’s retention of Nwosu as ADC chairman, calls for formal convention
Founding chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr Chekwas Okorie, has backed the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission to retain Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu as National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress on its website.
Reacting to the development, Okorie dismissed claims that INEC acted under external influence. He explained that although Nwosu and the new officers had entered into a memorandum of understanding, the agreement had yet to be formalised through a national convention.
“INEC itself, that is supposed to monitor political parties and their administrations, did not come up with any query to say, why are you still here after so many years?” Okorie said. “So, on paper, he remained chairman and INEC, either as a result of their own negligence or ignorance, continues to work with him up to now.”
He noted that Nwosu, who left APGA in 2005 to found ADC, had served as national chairman for over two decades without legal interruption or INEC objection. According to him, there has been no effective court pronouncement terminating Nwosu’s chairmanship.
“Currently, Ralph Nwosu’s leadership of ADC, to the best of my knowledge, has already entered into a certain understanding based on an MoU with the new leaders of ADC,” he said.
Okorie said, “All that is needed now, since he continues to enjoy the recognition of INEC, is a mini-convention, which I know they have planned to hold either this month or some other time soon,” he said. “There, they will formally hand over that leadership in the presence of the INEC monitoring team, and the records of INEC will reflect the new people.”
He maintained that Nwosu is not holding on to power, stressing that only INEC awaits the final step, the convention. Contrasting the ADC situation with that of the Labour Party, Okorie blamed the judiciary for creating confusion through ambiguous rulings and accused INEC of failing to act decisively after Mr Julius Abure’s tenure ended.
“The courts are causing the mess in political parties… they make pronouncements that allow both sides to claim victory,” he said. He questioned LP’s leadership structure, asserting that all functional organs of the party, including the National Executive Council and elected representatives, are aligned with the Nenadi Usman-led faction, not Abure.
Labour Party faction accuses INEC of meddling in internal affairs
The Julius Abure faction of the Labour Party has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission of interfering in the party’s internal affairs.
National Youth Leader of the faction, Kennedy Ahanotu, made the allegation during an interview on TVC yesterday. His comments followed INEC’s exclusion of a candidate from the Abure-led group from the list for the August 16 by-elections. Ahanotu claimed the electoral body has shown bias against the Labour Party since the 2023 general election.
“INEC is doing hanky panky with Labour Party affairs,” he said. “And I don’t know — maybe because of the wonders the party performed in 2023 — maybe INEC under Mahmood (Yakubu), because Mahmood, I’m sure, received the shock of his life with the performance of Labour Party in the 2023 general election. Maybe because of that, he’s now afraid to let the party field candidates in elections.” He urged INEC to remain impartial and allow the party to manage its internal processes.
“The chairman who has refused to obey the rule of law, the chairman who is trying to be the one to decide that there is a crisis in the Labour Party,” Ahanotu said. The chairman under whose watch a convention notice was given — the law says 21 days, but the Labour Party gave over 100 days’ notice.”
He also criticised INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, for allegedly bypassing the party’s leadership and engaging directly with its elected officials.
“Where on earth do you hear that a national chairman of INEC should be listening to candidates that won election under a political party, where the party has internal mechanisms of resolution?” he asked.
“If any candidate or governor or senator has issues with what is happening in the party, they should come to the party, make their case known, and if they are not responded to, they have the right to go to court — not to go to INEC.”
On the leadership tussle within the party, Ahanotu said the Abure faction has complied with the Supreme Court’s directive that the dispute be resolved internally. He added that anyone alleging contempt of court should take the appropriate legal steps.
“If we on this side have committed contempt by not obeying Supreme Court judgment, the legal thing to do by anybody — by any lawyer—is it not to go to court for execution?” he asked.
“Contempt is highly punishable by law. When the highest court of the land says that you are no more and you are still perpetrating yourself — who are you?” He maintained that senior legal experts have affirmed that the Supreme Court ruling relates strictly to an internal party matter.
CSOs urge INEC to halt premature political campaigns, enforce electoral law
A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to issue a public order restraining political parties from embarking on early campaigns ahead of the 2027 general election.
In a letter dated June 5 and addressed to the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, the group also urged the Commission to work with law enforcement agencies to remove political campaign materials that violate electoral regulations.
The letter, signed by Samson Itodo, Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, was co-signed by representatives of other CSOs, including the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), Elect Her, TAF Africa, The Kukah Centre, International Press Centre (IPC), and Nigerian Women Trust Fund.
“The continuous violation of electoral laws will not abate if firm actions are not taken by your commission and law enforcement agencies to enforce compliance and uphold the rule of law,” the letter stated.
The organisations raised concerns over the increasing trend of political parties and politicians flouting Section 92 of the Electoral Act, which stipulates that campaigns must only commence 150 days before an election.
They pointed out that while political consultations are allowed, many politicians have crossed the line into full-blown campaigning disguised as consultations or engagements.
“We are further alarmed by the erection of billboards, and display of branded vehicles and clothing in several parts of the country bearing campaign messages, effectively eroding the distinction between legitimate political expression and premature electioneering,” the CSOs said.
They maintained that such actions by political parties amount to premature campaigns and are in direct violation of the Electoral Act and INEC’s regulations on the conduct of elections.
“The notice of election for the 2027 election has not been issued by the commission nor has the 150 days before the date of the 2027 elections commenced,” they noted.
According to the CSOs, the disregard for the legal timeline not only undermines the rule of law but also affects the integrity of the electoral process.
“This not only contravenes established legal timelines but also places undue pressure on the electoral environment, limits equitable participation, further decreases public trust in the electoral process, and risks diverting governance attention away from the pressing needs of the Nigerian citizens,” they stated.
The group called on INEC to take decisive action to deter further violations and uphold the sanctity of Nigeria’s electoral laws.
