ADC walks into INEC trap as Tinubu’s chess game begins
THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has set a trap for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and the newly-formed political party is falling into it.
On April 1, INEC said it will no longer recognise the factions of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by David Mark and Nafiu Bala Gombe, following its review of the court of appeal judgement.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, INEC Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Mr Mohammed Haruna, said the commission will refrain from engaging with both groups or monitoring their meetings, congresses, and conventions. Mr Haruna said that while the letter from Suleiman Usman SAN & Co, representing Mark, urged the commission not to recognise Gombe as acting national chairman of the ADC due to a pending suit before the federal high court in Abuja, the correspondence from Summit Law Chambers, who represents Gombe, took a contrary position.
The commission said that at its meeting on Tuesday, it resolved “to maintain the status quo ante bellum as directed by the Court of Appeal based on the facts and position of the parties existing before 2nd September 2025, when the case was filed by the plaintiff.”
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The INEC’s position means that David Mark is no longer the chairman of ADC nor Rauf Aregbesola the party secretary.
ADC response
In their response, ADC leaders alleged a coordinated effort to tilt Nigeria’s political system towards a one-party structure ahead of the 2027 elections. The party accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of leveraging INEC to destabilise opposition platforms.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, ADC National Chairman, Mr David Mark, urged the removal of INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, citing what he described as partisan conduct and actions that breach electoral neutrality. He made the remarks while addressing journalists at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.
The ADC’s internal crisis, which began in 2025, centres on disputes over leadership succession. Tensions escalated after a new National Working Committee led by Mark emerged in July 2025, a development linked to disagreements surrounding the tenure of former National Chairman, Mr Ralph Nwosu, whose term had officially expired in August 2022. His continued involvement in party affairs reportedly deepened divisions within the party.
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As rival factions battled for control, multiple legal actions were filed, creating uncertainty within the ADC and raising questions about its readiness for the next general election cycle.
Mark, however, framed the situation as part of a broader pattern, alleging that democratic freedoms, particularly the right to association, have come under sustained pressure in recent years. He argued that the ultimate objective is to weaken opposition forces to the point where President Bola Ahmed Tinubu faces no viable competition in 2027.
He maintained that worsening economic conditions and insecurity have eroded public confidence in the current administration, suggesting that political interference is being used to retain power. According to him, the ADC leadership transition followed due process, including a National Executive Committee meeting held on July 29, 2025, which was observed by INEC officials.
Mark added that the outcomes of that meeting, including the dissolution of the previous leadership and the appointment of a caretaker committee, were formally communicated to INEC, which later updated its records in September 2025 to reflect the changes.
Addressing the legal dispute, he noted that one of the former party officials, Nafiu Bala, had resigned months earlier but later approached the court seeking recognition as chairman. Mark argued that INEC was already aware of both the resignation and the leadership changes before the lawsuit was filed.
He further explained that while the matter is still in court, the court of appeal had instructed all parties to maintain the ‘status quo ante bellum.’ However, he criticised INEC’s interpretation of that directive, accusing the commission of effectively creating a leadership vacuum within the party.
READ ALSO: ADC calls for INEC chairman’s removal, warns of Tinubu’s planned one-party agenda
According to Mark, if there was any ambiguity in the court’s order, INEC should have sought clarification rather than act unilaterally. He alleged that the commission’s actions demonstrate bias and amount to interference in the internal affairs of a political party.
ADC falls into trap
However, ADC has announced plans to proceed with its congresses and national convention despite warnings from the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Amupitan.
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In a statement issued on Friday and signed by the party’s National Organising Secretary, Mr Chinedu Idigo, and National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party insisted that its activities would go ahead as scheduled.
The party outlined its timetable, stating that the screening of aspirants would hold on April 7, followed by appeals on April 8, while polling unit, ward and local government congresses are scheduled for April 9. Appeals on the congresses will hold on April 10, with state congresses fixed for April 11 and appeals on April 12. The national convention is slated for April 14.
ADC takes uncalculated risk
But the party appears to be taking an uncalculated risk. In 2019, the All Progressives Congress (APC) went ahead with its primaries in Zamfara State despite issues in court. The eventual outcome was that the Supreme Court later ruled that the primaries were invalid and the ruling party lost all the seats. Votes were transferred to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Also in 2019, APC factions conducted parallel congresses and primaries despite court cases. The results were that the courts invalidated the processes, while INEC refused to recognise APC candidates. APC was eventually excluded from the general elections.
“Going ahead with the elections could be dangerous,” said an Abuja-based lawyer, Mr Chikwe Umanna. “The congress could be declared invalid, and INEC may decide not to recognise the outcome. If INEC does not recognise the process, whatever the leaders who emerged from the process does – including party primaries – will be invalid. ADC must beware.”
One political analyst who pleaded anonymity described the situation as ‘Tinubu’s chess game’ to ensure “that no major party presents a presidential candidate against him,” noting that “APC and Tinubu are all over the opposition parties and INEC, dictating the play.”
Professor of Law, Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, said the presidency’s threat to activate Amupitan’s alleged pre-signed resignation letter led to the commission’s delisting of Mark and other leaders of ADC from INEC portal.
Odinkalu carpeted INEC over its interpretation of the ruling of the Court of Appeal in the case (appeal) between Mark and Gombe and others.
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In his X post, Odinkalu pointed fingers at the INEC leadership, President Bola Tinubu, Court of Appeal, and the Federal High Court, alleging a meeting that culminated in the commission’s statement containing its interpretation of the Court of Appeal’s ruling.
Odinkalu wrote, “This release by @inecnigeria followed a meeting involving senior leaders of the Commission, & @NGRPresident, @CourtOfAppealNG, @FederalHigh in the last 60 hours.
“I have it on the most impeccable authority that there is a pre-signed resignation letter by Chairman (Professor Joash) Amupitan (INEC chairman).
“It was a pre-condition for his appointment. Ultimately, that had to be called in aid by those who persuaded him to issue this release.
“The threat of releasing it did the magic. It should be evident to a professor of law & #SAN that it is not the business of @inecnigeria to interpret the decision of the Court of Appeal.
“If they had any doubt, an #INEC governed by good faith should have gone back to the Court of Appeal to secure an interpretation of the decision.
“But that is not where we are now. The country stares down a barrel & only those willing to enable that, make peace with it, or dare it will be able to sniff the stakes in #NigeriaDecides2027.”
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About the Author
Odinaka Anudu
Editor and Managing Editor
Lagos, Nigeria
Odinaka Anudu is a seasoned journalist with nearly two decades of journalism experience. He has won 19 journalism awards and written thousands of stories for both local and international platforms. He has worked in eight different media organisations and travelled widely in various capacities. He is an investigative journalist, a newsroom leader, mentor and lecturer.
