The leadership tussle within the African Democratic Congress ADC has escalated, with rival factions taking their dispute to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The faction led by Nafiu Bala has formally written to INEC, seeking recognition as the party’s leadership and urging the commission to withdraw recognition from former Senate President David Mark and ex-minister Rauf Aregbesola as Chairman and Secretary, respectively.
The development follows a legal battle triggered by Bala, who insists he should have assumed the position of national chairman after the resignation of former party leader, Ralph Nwosu.
Although a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Emeka Nwite, earlier declined Bala’s request to compel INEC to derecognise the current leadership, the dispute took a new turn after the Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal filed by Mark on procedural grounds.
The appellate court, led by Uchechukwu Onyemenam, ordered all parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Following the ruling, Bala, through his counsel, urged INEC to comply with the court’s directive and recognise him as national chairman, arguing that any action contrary to the ruling would undermine the judicial process.
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However, a counter-letter by legal practitioner Sulaimon Usman advised INEC against acting on Bala’s request, stressing that the commission should refrain from recognising any new leadership until the court delivers a final judgment.
Meanwhile, the crisis has taken a political dimension, with allegations from within the party claiming interference by the Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC)—claims the ruling party has strongly denied.
APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, dismissed the allegations as baseless, insisting that neither the Presidency nor the party is involved in the ADC’s internal dispute.
He urged the ADC to respect the court’s directive to maintain the status quo, noting that INEC must also adhere strictly to the rule of law pending the resolution of the case.