Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Abuja, Nigeria — The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Youth Wing has escalated a leadership feud with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by issuing a 72‑hour ultimatum demanding restoration of the party leadership recognised in 2025, threatening peaceful nationwide civic action if the electoral body fails to comply. The ultimatum, delivered at a press briefing in the party’s national headquarters in Abuja, highlights deepening tensions over institutional roles, legal processes, and Nigeria’s democratic framework ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The youth wing, led by ADC National Youth Leader Balarabe Rufa’i, said on April 6 that INEC’s recent actions effectively undermined the autonomy of political parties and exceeded its constitutional mandate. The group argues that a National Executive Committee meeting held on July 29, 2025 — which dissolved the party’s former National Working Committee and established a new leadership under former Senate President David Mark — was monitored by INEC, verified and officially recognised without dispute in September 2025. Rufa’i said there was no objection, ambiguity or legal challenge at that time.
Claims by the youth wing centre on what they consider a sudden reversal by INEC. According to Rufa’i, subsequent decisions by the commission went beyond simply implementing a court directive and instead involved interpreting an appellate court judgment — a function he insists belongs solely to the judiciary. He questioned why the electoral body would act on letters and pending motions lacking final judicial determination, describing INEC’s actions as a violation of the constitution and an erosion of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
“This is not neutrality. It is complicity, partisanship and institutional sabotage,” Rufa’i said, warning that Nigeria’s democratic gains are at risk if political institutions are allowed to act outside their statutory boundaries. “If INEC fails to comply within 72 hours, we will initiate nationwide, peaceful and lawful civic action across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.”
The youth wing’s demands extend beyond mere restoration of party leadership. They have called for a public apology from INEC for what they describe as an unconstitutional and partisan conduct that has weakened confidence in the electoral system. They also demanded that the electoral commission refrain from actions based on non‑binding motions or correspondence not backed by clear court rulings. In addition, some segments of the youth wing have called for the resignation or removal of INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan, asserting that leadership changes at the commission may be necessary to restore neutrality and public trust.
Representatives of the ADC youth wing framed the issue as broader than an internal party dispute, presenting it as a struggle to defend democratic values and protect the rights of Nigerians to fair political participation. Rufa’i appealed to civil society organisations and concerned citizens to support what he termed lawful civic resistance, including the planned occupation of INEC offices nationwide should the commission fail to meet the ultimatum.
The ultimatum comes amid an extended leadership crisis within the ADC that predates recent headlines. The dispute intensified after some former executives contested the legitimacy of the leadership elected at the July 2025 NEC meeting, prompting legal challenges. A Court of Appeal ruling instructed parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum — or the last uncontested leadership — while awaiting substantive legal adjudication. The electoral commission’s subsequent decision to derecognise both the David Mark and competing factions, and to remove their names from INEC’s portal, has raised questions about compliance with court injunctions and institutional respect for legal processes.
The legal context is further complicated by official internal documents. A memorandum from INEC’s Election Party Monitoring Committee in August 2025 flagged procedural issues with the documentation submitted by the ADC regarding the July meeting, including failure to provide required notice under the Electoral Act and absence of specimen signatures from the new leadership. The memo suggested that without these formalities the process fell short of statutory requirements, reinforcing the electoral commission’s rationale for review. Opposition figures, however, see such technical concerns as secondary to broader political and democratic questions at stake.
ADC leadership has decried the electoral body’s conduct as possibly jeopardising the party’s participation in forthcoming elections by refusing to accept official correspondence or recognise its structures. The party insists it has met statutory requirements for congresses and conventions and accused INEC of creating unnecessary obstacles. Civil society organisations have weighed in, with some urging all parties to strengthen internal dispute resolution mechanisms and cautioning against demonising the electoral umpire.
Political analysts observe that the dispute reflects deeper challenges confronting Nigeria’s multiparty democracy. They note that conflict over leadership legitimacy, judicial overlap with electoral administration, and procedural ambiguities can weaken public confidence in democratic institutions at a time when political competition is intensifying ahead of the 2027 general elections. Some analysts say that without clear, transparent and predictable institutional roles, tensions like those now manifest within the ADC could discourage participation and exacerbate political distrust.
As the 72‑hour deadline draws closer, the focus is on INEC’s response and whether it will reconsider its position to avert nationwide civic action. How the commission navigates this ultimatum, balances legal directives, and responds to public pressure could shape broader perceptions of electoral integrity and political stability in Nigeria. The outcome of this standoff may also influence how political parties manage internal disputes and interact with constitutional institutions in the future, with implications that extend well beyond the ADC itself.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments