Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A sustained leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress, one of Nigeria’s registered political parties, has led to the suspension of planned party congresses and activities in multiple states, disrupting the party’s organisational calendar just months ahead of the 2027 general elections. The impasse has entangled regulatory, judicial, and factional actors, prompting state chapters to halt internal elections and escalating political tensions between the party and the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The ADC’s challenges stem from a deeply contested struggle for control of its national leadership that began in 2025. The dispute involves competing claims between factions led by former Senate President David Mark and party stalwart Nafiu Bala Gombe, each asserting legitimacy over the party’s executive structures. The controversy intensified after a Court of Appeal ruling in March directed INEC to maintain the status quo regarding party leadership while the matter is pending before the Federal High Court. In compliance with that judicial directive, INEC announced it would withdraw recognition of the rival leadership claims and would not engage with or monitor any party congresses or conventions tied to them.
In response to the electoral body’s action, several state chapters of the ADC have taken the conservative step of suspending scheduled congresses. In Ondo State, the party’s leadership announced the immediate suspension of previously planned ward, local government, and state congresses, citing strict adherence to the INEC directive to uphold the status quo. The state chairman emphasised respect for the electoral commission’s regulatory authority and called on members to remain disciplined and avoid activities that could conflict with electoral regulations.
The Anambra State chapter likewise declared an indefinite suspension of all planned congresses, reaffirming its commitment to due process and respect for judicial authority while awaiting clarity from national and legal authorities. The decision in Anambra reflected a broader cautious approach by state units seeking to avoid legal confrontation or contravention of INEC’s stance.
In northern Nigeria, a High Court in Katsina State issued an interim injunction halting all ADC activities in the state, including congresses. The order specifically restrained both national party figures and INEC from recognising, overseeing, or participating in any congress organised by the parties named in a suit brought by the Katsina ADC chairman. Citing potential usurpation of his authority, the Katsina chairman secured the court order pending further hearings scheduled later in April, effectively freezing state party processes until the leadership dispute is resolved in court.
These suspensions mirror broader uncertainty within the ADC. Several chapters that had been progressing with organisational activities now find themselves recalibrating plans in line with legal and regulatory pressures. Some party members have protested INEC’s intervention, arguing that the electoral commission’s interpretation and implementation of the court order has gone beyond its mandate. In Abuja, hundreds of ADC supporters, including senior political figures such as former vice‑president Atiku Abubakar, former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, former governors, and prominent politicians, staged peaceful demonstrations against what they describe as an overreach by INEC. Protesters called for the reversal of the derecognition notice, a formal apology from the electoral body, and a reaffirmation of its neutrality amid the disputes.
ADC leaders at the protest argued that INEC’s decision to delist the Mark‑led leadership from its official portal contradicts due process and threatens the party’s ability to meet statutory requirements for candidate nomination and electoral participation in 2027. They framed the derecognition as harmful to Nigeria’s democratic pluralism and a de facto barrier to opposition party competitiveness, while insisting that judicial interpretation rests solely with the courts and not the electoral regulator.
Amid the dispute, the electoral commission’s chairman reiterated that INEC’s actions are grounded in existing court orders, underscoring that holding congresses or a national convention without regulatory oversight could violate judicial directives and render such proceedings invalid. INEC has warned that parties defying court orders risk nullification of internal elections or other sanctions if contested in future electoral challenges.
Within the party itself, divisions have widened. While some state chairmen have aligned with the derecognition and are cooperating with the INEC directive, others have rejected the national leadership claims altogether, forming breakaway committees and declaring caretaker leadership pending resolution of internal disagreements. One bloc of state chairmen claimed to represent the majority of the party’s structures and unveiled a new national executive committee, asserting constitutional processes for reconstituting leadership. That move, however, has been dismissed by opposing factions as illegitimate and influenced by rival political interests.
The ADC’s crisis reflects broader challenges facing opposition parties in Nigeria’s political environment, where internal governance conflicts and interactions with statutory bodies can have significant implications for organisational continuity and electoral competitiveness. With national party congresses and candidate selection processes legally and strategically crucial ahead of the general elections, the ADC’s delayed and contested congresses underscore the high stakes of internal cohesion and the importance of clear leadership endorsement.
Analysts have noted that the party’s current predicament could weaken its grassroots presence, dampen morale among supporters, and complicate its ability to present a unified platform in national contests. The ongoing legal battles, regulatory postures, and factional rivalries highlight the fragility of internal party democracy when unresolved leadership claims intersect with judicial and electoral mandates.
As the ADC navigates the complex intersection of court orders, regulatory compliance, and internal realignments, the coming weeks are expected to be pivotal. Court rulings, negotiations among rival factions, and potential reengagement with INEC will likely determine whether the party can stabilise its structure, resume suspended congresses, and maintain relevance in the competitive run‑up to Nigeria’s 2027 elections.
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