By Jeremy Fregene
The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) escalated on Thursday as the faction led by Nafiu Bala staged a protest at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja, even as court orders and regulatory actions forced the suspension of party congresses in several states.
Bala, who is laying claim to the national chairmanship of the party, led his supporters to INEC a day after a similar protest by the rival faction aligned with former Senate President David Mark.
Addressing protesters, Bala urged the electoral body to recognise him as the authentic national chairman, citing a Court of Appeal ruling. He accused the Mark-led group of attempting to seize control of the party through irregular means, including alleged forgery and unauthorised transfer of leadership.
“The unauthorised transfer of power to David Mark and his associates raises serious concerns about the integrity of governance and the rule of law,” Bala said.
“The intruders, by forging signatures of genuine members and leaders of the ADC, have undermined democratic processes and violated public trust,” he added, calling for a thorough investigation and accountability.
The protest comes amid mounting disruption to the party’s internal processes following INEC’s decision to withdraw recognition of all factional leaderships on April 1, citing a subsisting court directive and ongoing litigation.
The commission also declared that it would not monitor any congresses or conventions organised by the party until a competent court resolves the leadership dispute.
As a result, at least six state chapters—including Anambra, Sokoto, Bayelsa, Ondo, Niger, and Enugu—have suspended their ward, local government, and state congresses in compliance with INEC’s directive.
In Enugu, the state leadership confirmed that while congresses had been put on hold, mobilisation and membership registration activities would continue pending further guidance from the national headquarters.
The crisis was further compounded by a High Court order in Katsina, which restrained party officials from conducting congresses or parading themselves as leaders, pending the determination of a substantive suit fixed for April 15, 2026.
Prior to the disruption, the ADC had scheduled its ward congresses for April 7, local government congresses for April 9, state congresses for April 11, and a national convention on April 14.
The party has, however, been embroiled in internal disputes since mid-2025, when an opposition coalition assumed control of its structure, leading to multiple factions and protracted legal battles.
While the Mark-led faction—backed by prominent политicians—has accused INEC of partisanship and alleged attempts to impose a one-party state, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the presidency have rejected the claims, describing the ADC’s challenges as self-inflicted.
With protests, court actions, and regulatory interventions now intersecting, the crisis continues to cast uncertainty over the party’s planned congresses and its broader political future.