The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has intensified, with rival factions escalating the dispute to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The camp led by Nafiu Bala has formally written to INEC, urging the electoral body to withdraw recognition of former Senate President David Mark and ex-Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.
Bala, a former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC, insists he is the rightful national chairman, arguing that he should have succeeded former chairman Ralph Nwosu following his resignation.
The latest development comes on the heels of a ruling by the Court of Appeal, which struck out an appeal filed by Mark challenging an earlier decision of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a suit instituted by Bala over the party’s leadership structure.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court had, on September 4, 2025, dismissed an ex parte motion filed by Bala seeking an order compelling INEC to withdraw recognition of Mark and Aregbesola. However, the court directed both men to show cause why the relief sought should not be granted.
Dissatisfied with that ruling, Mark filed a notice of appeal on September 18, 2025, questioning, among other issues, the jurisdiction of the trial court.
In its judgment delivered on Tuesday, the appellate court, in appeal number CA/ABJ/145/2026, declared the appeal procedurally incompetent, holding that it was filed against an interlocutory decision without the required leave of court. The three-member panel, led by Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam, subsequently struck out the appeal and ordered all parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit before the Federal High Court.
Following the appellate court’s decision, Bala has reportedly renewed his push at INEC, seeking official recognition as the National Chairman of the ADC.
Meanwhile, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, criticised the ADC over what he described as “wild claims” instead of resolving its internal disputes.
Basiru dismissed allegations that the Presidency and the APC were mounting pressure on INEC to deregister the ADC, stressing that neither the ruling party nor the Presidency was involved in the litigation.
“The Presidency and the APC are not parties to the suit in court. It was David Mark who approached the Court of Appeal, and the court ruled that the status quo ante bellum should be maintained,” he said.
He added that any law-abiding organisation should respect the court’s directive while awaiting the final determination of the substantive case.
