Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The political landscape in Nigeria has been thrown into fresh uncertainty after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) moved to freeze recognition of the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a party that has increasingly positioned itself as a major opposition force ahead of the 2027 general elections. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has publicly backed INEC’s decision, saying the crisis was self-inflicted by the ADC’s own leadership struggles and hijacking of party structures, rather than the result of external interference.
On April 1, 2026, INEC announced that it would no longer accept official correspondence from either of the two rival factions within the ADC, both led by prominent national figures — former Senate President David Mark and Nafiu Bala Gombe. The commission said it would also refrain from monitoring, recognising, or engaging with any party activities, including congresses or conventions, until the leadership dispute is conclusively determined by the Federal High Court in Abuja. This decision followed a March 12 ruling by the Court of Appeal and conflicting legal communications from both factions, neither of which has secured clear judicial endorsement as the legitimate leadership of the party.
The roots of the dispute trace back to July 2025, when the then-national chairman of the ADC, Ralph Nwosu, resigned. In the wake of his departure, a caretaker committee led by David Mark was appointed, with former Minister Rauf Aregbesola as national secretary. However, Nafiu Bala Gombe, the party’s erstwhile vice-national chairman, challenged this arrangement. Gombe maintained that he had not resigned and should therefore automatically assume leadership under the party’s constitution, leading him to initiate legal action at the Federal High Court to prevent Mark’s faction from acting as leadership. Mark’s camp subsequently appealed, but in March 2026 the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal and ordered the parties to maintain the status quo. INEC interpreted this to mean it should withdraw recognition from the Mark faction and disengage entirely until the substantive matter is resolved judicially.
INEC’s announcement effectively placed the ADC in institutional limbo: by removing the names of David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its official portal, the commission not only rescinded their authority as party leaders but also stopped recognising Nafiu Bala Gombe’s claim until a court decides the matter. INEC said it received conflicting demands from legal representatives of both factions — one urging continued recognition of the Mark leadership and the other insisting that the appellate court’s ruling should be enforced. With these competing positions and ongoing litigation before the Federal High Court, the commission opted for neutrality by suspending its engagement with all contending groups.
The derecognition move has prompted strong reactions across Nigeria’s political spectrum. Within the ADC, senior party figures described INEC’s position as contradictory and damaging to democratic processes, accusing the commission of misinterpreting the Court of Appeal’s directive and undermining the party’s organisational integrity. Some within the party argue that the status quo ante clause called for the reinstatement of the previous leadership — not wholesale removal of elected officers — and have publicly contested INEC’s legal interpretation.
The APC, the ruling party at the federal level, has backed INEC’s stance. APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka said the dispute was “utterly self-inflicted,” dismissing suggestions that the ruling party had engineered the crisis to weaken the ADC. He emphasised that the APC was focused on its own preparations for the 2027 elections and had no role in the internal disagreements that prompted INEC’s action. According to Morka, the ADC leadership created its own problems by ignoring constitutional procedures for succession, which contributed directly to the current conflict and regulatory outcome.
Despite the APC’s position, critics have voiced concern over the political implications. Political activists and analysts have warned that INEC’s timing and approach risk undermining public confidence in the neutrality of the electoral process, particularly with key elections less than a year away. Some observers see the situation as potentially damaging to the vibrancy of opposition parties, especially if the ADC is unable to resolve its leadership crisis and participate effectively in the electoral cycle. Allegations have surfaced from various quarters that the federal government’s allies may be exerting pressure on regulatory institutions, although these claims are denied by the APC and contested by the electoral body itself.
The broader political stakes are significant. The ADC has attracted high-profile politicians from across Nigeria’s political class, including former vice president Atiku Abubakar, former presidential candidate Peter Obi, and other prominent leaders who have defected from their original parties in recent years to challenge the dominance of the APC. As such, the leadership dispute and INEC’s derecognition have raised concerns about the party’s participation in the primaries and its ability to field candidates in 2027 without a legitimately recognised leadership structure.
Under the current electoral timetable issued by INEC, political parties are required to organise congresses and conduct primaries between late April and May 2026. With the ADC’s organisational activities effectively suspended pending court intervention, there is ongoing debate about whether the party can fully engage in the 2027 election at all. If its internal crisis remains unresolved, the ADC risks being sidelined at a critical moment when the political landscape is highly competitive and the demand for a credible opposition is palpable.
As the story continues to unfold, attention remains on the Federal High Court’s imminent ruling, the outcome of which could have far-reaching implications for party politics in Nigeria’s multi-party system, the integrity of the electoral process, and the readiness of opposition parties to challenge the incumbent government in upcoming national polls.
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