ADC | INEC | NON-RECOGNITION

 

-Special Report-

ADC Leadership Crisis Deepens Amidst Power Struggles and INEC Non-Recognition

The African Democratic Congress (ADC), once considered a rising force among Nigeria’s alternative political parties, is now embroiled in a deepening leadership crisis that threatens its cohesion ahead of the 2027 general elections. The turmoil began in July 2025 when Ralph Okey Nwosu, the party’s founder and long-serving National Chairman, announced his resignation along with the dissolution of the National Working Committee. In his place, a caretaker committee was unveiled, led by former Senate President David Mark, with former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary and Bolaji Abdullahi as Interim National Publicity Secretary.

This transition, however, has been anything but smooth. Nafiu Bala, a former governorship candidate in Gombe State, has publicly declared himself the legitimate National Chairman of the ADC, citing the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act as the basis for his claim. Bala insists that he is the rightful successor following Nwosu’s resignation and has accused the David Mark-led coalition of hijacking the party through unconstitutional means. He has threatened legal action and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize his leadership, warning that the ADC risks collapse if the crisis persists.

INEC’s response has added fuel to the fire. Despite the ADC’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting, witnessed by INEC officials, where the new leadership was ratified, the commission has refused to update its official portal to reflect the changes. As of late August, INEC still lists Ralph Nwosu and his former executive team as the party’s recognized officers, signaling non-recognition of the David Mark-led caretaker committee. This has cast doubt on the legitimacy of the new leadership and raised questions about INEC’s role in internal party affairs.

The crisis has also exposed deeper fractures within the ADC. Bala and other dissenting voices, including 2023 presidential candidate Dumebi Kachikwu, argue that the party is being transformed into a private coalition platform dominated by elite politicians with no formal ties to the ADC. The coalition backing David Mark includes high-profile figures such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Nasir el-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, and Solomon Dalung. Critics claim this influx of political heavyweights threatens the party’s grassroots identity and democratic ethos.

In contrast, Bolaji Abdullahi, speaking on behalf of the interim leadership, has dismissed claims of a crisis as media sensationalism. He insists that the party remains united and focused on building national structures. Abdullahi argues that Bala’s assertions are recycled distractions and that the ADC’s constitution empowers the National Executive Committee to act on behalf of the convention. He further emphasized that any legitimate grievances should be taken to the police, not aired through press conferences4.

The ADC’s internal strife comes at a critical juncture, with the 2027 elections looming and the party positioning itself as a viable alternative to Nigeria’s dominant political forces. Yet, without a clear resolution and INEC’s formal recognition of its leadership, the ADC risks losing credibility and cohesion. As legal threats mount and factions dig in, the party’s future hangs in the balance, caught between its founding ideals and the ambitions of its new power players.