Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Tuesday made public a sworn affidavit from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that it says confirms the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) under former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola was duly recognised in 2025, in an intensifying political and legal dispute that has raised serious questions about institutional independence, electoral credibility and the autonomy of political parties in Nigeria’s evolving democracy.
The affidavit, dated September 12, 2025, was filed by INEC in the Federal High Court, Abuja, in response to a suit initiated by party chieftain Nafiu Bala Gombe, who challenged the leadership transition within the ADC. According to the document published by the party, INEC acknowledged receipt of formal notice for the ADC’s National Executive Committee meeting scheduled for July 29, 2025, and deployed its officials to monitor the process. The affidavit states that following the meeting at a venue in Abuja, where leaders of the NWC were changed, the commission updated its internal records to reflect David Mark as National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary — recognition that had previously been accessible on INEC’s public portal.
ADC officials argue that particular clauses in the affidavit clearly show the party’s leadership transition had been concluded and recognised by INEC before the document was filed, reinforcing the position that matters of internal party leadership fall exclusively within a party’s autonomy and are ordinarily outside the scope of judicial intervention. The party contends the affidavit therefore affirms its legal leadership ahead of critical deadlines for compliance with electoral regulations for the 2027 general election.
The party’s release of the affidavit comes in the aftermath of actions by INEC that effectively removed the names of Mark and Aregbesola from its official portal in early April, citing an appeal court’s instruction to maintain the status quo ante bellum — a legal directive to preserve the situation that existed before the leadership dispute escalated — pending determination of the substantive suit before the Federal High Court. ADC leaders have described this move as contradictory to INEC’s earlier actions and records, arguing it creates confusion and threatens their ability to comply with statutory processes as the election calendar advances.
In a forceful statement accompanying the affidavit’s release, ADC accused INEC and elements within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of using the electoral body to influence political competition in favour of the ruling party. The statement warned such actions, if allowed to persist, could erode public trust in democratic processes, undermine party autonomy as enshrined in Nigeria’s constitutional and electoral framework, and create a precedent where powerful institutions interfere in internal party matters.
“Nigeria’s democracy can only thrive when institutions remain impartial,” the party declared, framing the dispute not merely as an intra‑party legal confrontation but as a structural challenge to the principles of fairness and competitive political engagement. ADC officials warned that any perception of bias by INEC risks undermining the credibility of elections at a time when political tensions are already heightened across the country.
The leadership wrangle within the ADC began in mid‑2025, following internal coalition efforts that resulted in the resignation of erstwhile party leaders and the installation of a new NWC with high-profile figures such as Mark and Aregbesola. Rival claims to leadership, particularly by Nafiu Bala’s faction and other dissidents, led to legal contestations that eventually drew the attention of both appeal and federal courts. As the Judiciary and INEC navigated the procedural waters of these disputes, neither faction has enjoyed uncontested recognition by the electoral body, leaving the ADC in a state of administrative uncertainty.
Complicating the situation further, some state chairmen within the ADC have publicly supported INEC’s decision to derecognise the Mark-led faction, instead backing a leadership group aligned with the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu. These state party officials have dissociated themselves from both the Mark and Bala factions, arguing that their own leadership structure is the legitimate authority for interacting with INEC and other civic institutions.
The multi-layered dispute has fueled broader debates about the role of courts, electoral commissions and political parties in Nigeria’s democratic framework. Legal analysts note that while courts have a responsibility to adjudicate disputes brought before them, including those involving internal party matters, the interplay with INEC’s duties to administer electoral laws and maintain impartial registers introduces complex challenges at a critical juncture for political parties preparing for national elections.
Beyond institutional actors, civic groups and youth organisations have weighed in on the controversy. Some civil society coalitions have expressed concern over the mobilisation of protests and urged caution, warning that leveraging civil society networks for partisan ends could undermine the integrity of Nigeria’s civic space. Meanwhile, pro-INEC rallies have also been held, with participants denouncing attacks on the electoral body and urging respect for court orders and the commission’s statutory mandate.
Amid the dispute, the ADC has mobilised support, issuing ultimatums and calling for the restoration of its recognised leadership within specified timelines, even threatening civil protests should INEC fail to reverse its stance. At the same time, segments of civil society have cautioned against escalations that might disrupt democratic stability or polarise public opinion ahead of elections.
Political commentators say the ADC’s predicament highlights wider structural issues within Nigeria’s political system, including the capacity of emerging parties to navigate legal frameworks, the robustness of institutional checks and balances, and the potential impact of internal disputes on party credibility and voter confidence. With less than a year to the 2027 general elections, the resolution of this leadership impasse — whether through courts, electoral administrative action or internal settlement — is anticipated to have significant implications for opposition politics and the broader contest for political power in Nigeria.
As the ADC presses for recognition of its interpretation of the affidavit and confronts the challenges posed by INEC’s decisions, political stakeholders, civil society and the electorate will be watching closely, mindful that the outcome could influence perceptions of fairness, institutional neutrality and the inclusiveness of Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.
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