The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw recognition of its leadership, describing the move as unlawful and a deliberate attempt to destabilise the party.
The party’s National Chairman, David Mark, who spoke at a world press conference in Abuja on Thursday, said INEC’s action amounted to the creation of a crisis that never existed within the party.
“INEC has created a crisis that never existed,” Mark said, accusing the commission of misinterpreting a Court of Appeal directive to maintain status quo ante bellum.
Mark argued that INEC’s decision to withdraw recognition of both factions in the ADC leadership dispute was based on a flawed interpretation of the court order.
According to him, the party had a duly constituted leadership following its National Executive Committee meeting of July 29, 2025. The process which was monitored by INEC and formally communicated to the commission.
He said rather than seek clarification from the court, INEC acted in a manner that effectively created a leadership vacuum. “INEC has invented a status quo unknown to law,” he said.
The former Senate President reaffirmed that the leadership inaugurated at the July 2025 NEC meeting remains the legitimate authority of the party.
He dismissed rival claims to the chairmanship, noting that one of the claimants had resigned from his position months before instituting legal action — a development he said was already known to INEC. “There are no competing claims on the leadership of the ADC,” Mark stated.
Despite the dispute, Mark said the party would proceed with its scheduled congresses beginning April 9 and its national convention on April 14.
He noted that INEC’s presence is not a legal requirement for party activities and urged members to remain calm.
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