A fresh crisis has erupted in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the party battles the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the recognition of its newly elected executives.
While INEC insists that the ADC failed to meet the requirements for a legitimate leadership transition, the party maintains that due process was followed, accusing the electoral umpire of bias and delay.
How the Crisis Started
The controversy began after former ADC National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, alongside other members of the National Working Committee (NWC), resigned on July 1. His resignation followed the adoption of the ADC as the platform for an opposition coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
Subsequently, during its 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on July 29, the party inaugurated former Senate President David Mark as National Chairman and former Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary. Nwosu officially handed over to Mark in the presence of invited INEC officials.
But not everyone welcomed the transition. Nafiu Bala, ADC’s 2023 Gombe governorship candidate, dismissed the handover as “an unprecedented assault on democracy,” accusing party leaders of “surrendering control to outsiders.” Bala went further to declare himself interim National Chairman.
INEC Yet to Recognize Mark, Aregbesola
Despite the high-profile inauguration, INEC has yet to update its records. As of last weekend, the commission’s website still listed Ralph Nwosu as National Chairman, Said Abdullahi as Secretary, and other old executives in their respective roles.
INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, confirmed the delay, stating that ADC “has not completed all the processes required for recognition.” She explained that the party must submit sample signatures of the interim Chairman and Secretary, alongside other mandatory documentation.
ADC Fires Back at INEC
But ADC leaders insist they have complied with all constitutional requirements. Sadiq Yar’adua, the party’s National Secretary of Membership Mobilisation, said INEC’s delay was unnecessary.
“The party has communicated all the changes that happened to INEC. If they don’t reflect it on their website, it shouldn’t bother us,” Yar’adua said, accusing INEC of selective enforcement.
He further alleged that INEC was “compromised” and turning a blind eye to illegal pre-2027 campaigns by the APC.
“Across Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, President Tinubu’s posters are everywhere. These are illegalities, yet INEC is silent because Tinubu is in power,” Yar’adua claimed.
“Delay Is Administrative, Not Political” – Party Spokesman
ADC’s Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, however, downplayed the situation, insisting that the dispute was already resolved.
“The delay is purely administrative, not political, and it has been resolved. Recognition of the new leadership is only a matter of time,” he said.
What Went Wrong
Insiders revealed to Sunday Punch that the initial documentation sent to INEC was incomplete. The official report of the 99th NEC meeting was signed only by Nwosu and Abdullahi (former chairman and secretary), whereas it should have been co-signed by both old and new leaders to authenticate the transition.
“The delay is not entirely INEC’s fault,” a source admitted. “The right signatures were missing, but corrections have since been made. With political processes like this, delays are normal.”
What’s Next for ADC?
The ADC remains optimistic that its new leadership under David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola will soon be officially recognized. However, the party’s internal crisis and INEC’s reluctance to approve the transition have raised fresh questions about opposition unity ahead of the 2027 elections.
For now, the ADC finds itself at a crossroads: pushing to consolidate its new leadership while battling INEC’s bureaucracy — and internal dissent.
