The leadership crisis in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has escalated, with a rival faction urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw recognition from David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola.
The move follows a ruling by the court of appeal which dismissed Mark’s appeal and ordered parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The faction, led by Nafiu Bala, moved against the duo following a ruling by the Court of Appeal which dismissed Mark’s appeal challenging an earlier Federal High Court decision.
Bala, through his counsel, argued that INEC must comply with the appellate court’s directive, which ordered parties to “maintain the status quo ante bellum and refrain from taking any step capable of foisting a fait accompli on the court.”
The faction is now seeking recognition of Bala as national chairman, insisting that the current leadership lacks legal standing pending the determination of the substantive suit.
However, a counter-position emerged from another legal representative, who advised INEC to tread cautiously.
In a letter, the lawyer urged the commission to refrain from recognising or acting upon any representation seeking to install or recognise any person as acting national chairman pending the determination of the suit before the federal high court.
The dispute has also taken a political turn, with Bolaji Abdullahi alleging external interference.
He claimed, “we have it on good authority that the INEC chairman is under serious pressure from the Presidency and the All Progressives Congress to stop the ADC.”
According to him, the alleged plan is to weaken opposition forces ahead of the 2027 elections, adding, “Tinubu does not want to run against anybody. He is afraid of contesting the election against individuals like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi and other credible opposition figures.”
But the All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed the claims as baseless.
Ajibola Basiru, its national secretary said, “the Presidency and the APC are not parties to the suit in court, one expects that any law-abiding organisation would respect the order of the appellate court rather than making red herrings and wild allegations.”
Basiru further warned that INEC must not be pressured into disregarding the court’s directive.
“Any respectable organisation like INEC cannot be gaslighted into disobeying the order of the court of appeal,” he said.
He added that the ruling party had no involvement in the ADC’s internal dispute, stressing, “The presidency is too busy with serious matters to get involved in a political party that has not even taken off.”
