Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Yola, Adamawa State — On the day ward, local government and state congresses were scheduled to begin in Adamawa State on Thursday, April 9, 2026, a High Court sitting in the state delivered an interim order suspending all planned congress activities of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a major opposition party in Nigeria. The injunction adds to a series of judicial, regulatory and political obstacles disrupting the party’s efforts to reorganise internally ahead of its national convention and the 2027 general elections.
The court’s ruling followed a suit brought before it by a faction of ADC members who argued that the planned congresses should not proceed amid a leadership dispute affecting the party at both state and national levels. The judge granted the interim injunction restraining the ADC from holding any congress-related activities in Adamawa until the matter is substantively heard and determined. The order effectively put on hold delegate selection, mobilisation and leadership contests initially set to begin from the ward level.
The development in Adamawa reflects a broader internal crisis within the ADC that has spilled into Nigeria’s courts and drawn in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), raising serious questions about the party’s organisational coherence and electoral readiness. At the heart of the crisis is a bitter leadership tussle that has seen rival factions lay claim to the party’s national and state structures. Nationally, the dispute intensified after the emergence of a new leadership team led by former Senate President David Mark, a switch that was challenged in court by former deputy national chairman Nafiu Bala Gombe. Citing an appeal court ruling, INEC announced that it would maintain the status quo pending the resolution of the substantive suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja, and said it would not engage with any faction on party activities or conventions until the matter is resolved.
Prior to the Adamawa High Court order, similar legal and administrative disruptions had already affected ADC’s plans in other parts of the country. In Katsina State, a High Court issued an injunction preventing the party’s national leadership and INEC from recognising or overseeing any congress organised by certain party officials, and barred those individuals from parading themselves as party representatives in the state. That order, also interim, directs all parties to maintain the status quo until a substantive hearing scheduled for April 15, 2026.
Beyond the courts, several ADC state chapters have taken precautionary steps in response to national turmoil. In Ondo State, the chapter announced the suspension of its scheduled ward, local government and state congresses, citing strict compliance with INEC’s directive that parties must maintain the status quo amid ongoing internal disputes. Leaders there emphasised respect for the electoral body’s authority and called on members to refrain from activities that could contravene regulatory guidance.
Similarly, in Anambra State, the ADC chapter voluntarily suspended all planned congresses until further notice, stressing adherence to rule of law and due process as the party navigates consultations, pending judicial and regulatory developments. That statement referred to the existing leadership committee as the duly recognised authority, urging members to ignore unauthorised actors.
The contrasting approaches in different states highlight deep fragmentation within the party. In Kogi State, for example, one faction rejected claims that congresses were suspended, accusing internal rivals of usurping authority and urging members to proceed with scheduled activities in line with the National Working Committee’s directives.
Meanwhile, some ADC chapters are attempting to present an image of unity. In Rivers State, local leaders issued statements affirming party cohesion and intent to proceed with congresses, dismissing claims of division and insisting that stakeholders are aligned under recognised leadership.
Amid these developments, ADC leaders have also engaged in public demonstrations to protest what they describe as partisan actions by INEC. In Abuja on April 8, 2026, senior figures including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former presidential candidate Peter Obi, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, David Mark and others led a protest at the electoral commission’s headquarters. The demonstration was framed by participants as a defence of democratic norms and an appeal against perceived partisanship by the electoral umpire. ADC leaders also submitted a formal petition, calling for the resignation or removal of the INEC chairman, accusing the commission of undermining its constitutional mandate through its handling of the party’s leadership issues.
Political analysts warn that the accumulation of legal battles, regulatory interventions and factional disagreements could significantly weaken the ADC’s organisational capacity and its ability to contest effectively in the 2027 electoral cycle. With court orders stalling congresses in multiple states and INEC’s directive to maintain the status quo, the window remains unclear for the party to complete internal processes, conduct primaries or field candidates on schedule. Some politicians previously aligned with the party are said to be reconsidering their options should the crisis persist, potentially reshaping opposition electoral strategies.
The suspension of congresses in Adamawa and other states comes at a critical moment for the ADC. With its national convention originally scheduled for mid-April, the party faces mounting pressure to unify its structures, resolve leadership disputes and secure regulatory clarity. How the courts, INEC and party stakeholders negotiate the ongoing legal and internal governance challenges will have profound implications not only for the ADC but also for the broader configuration of Nigeria’s opposition ahead of the next general elections.
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