The leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has escalated further as the David Mark-led faction has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to overturn the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) withdrawal of recognition of its leadership structure.
The dispute stems from INEC’s decision on April 1 to remove the names of David Mark as National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary from its official records, following a Court of Appeal ruling that triggered a leadership realignment within the party.
In its new motion filed on April 7, the Mark-led leadership is asking the court to issue a mandatory injunction compelling INEC to restore the names of its National Working Committee members and to halt any refusal by the electoral body to monitor or attend its congresses and conventions.
The faction also seeks an order restraining INEC from recognising any rival leadership claims or altering party records pending the final determination of the case.
The application, filed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Sulaiman Usman, argues that the Court of Appeal’s directive on maintaining the status quo ante bellum was misinterpreted by INEC, leading to what the faction describes as wrongful non-recognition of its leadership.
The legal team further contends that the removal of the party’s leadership from INEC’s portal has created a vacuum that threatens the administration and operations of the ADC, warning that continued uncertainty could produce parallel party structures.
The faction is also seeking accelerated hearing of the case, arguing that the dispute has significant implications for democratic governance and political participation, and should be resolved swiftly to avoid further instability within the party.
Meanwhile, political tensions surrounding the crisis have continued to rise. A delegation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by its National Chairman Tanimu Turaki and including prominent figures such as Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, reportedly visited ADC leaders for discussions centered on opposition unity and democratic stability.
In a related development, Senator Victor Umeh accused the leadership of INEC of deliberately undermining the ADC crisis, arguing that courts lack jurisdiction over internal party leadership disputes and insisting that the electoral body acted improperly by relying on judicial orders in the matter.
The ongoing dispute has further deepened divisions within the ADC, with multiple factions laying claim to the party’s leadership amid competing court interpretations and escalating political tensions.
