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The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark, a former lawmaker who represented the Kogi West Senatorial District, Dino Melaye, and other ADC leaders are challenging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the party’s current leadership tussle.
Mark, Melaye, former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and other ADC members gathered at INEC headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday to demand that the electoral body reverse its decision on the party’s leadership.
INEC removed the names of Mark and other members of the ADC’s national working committee and said it halted the recognition of the Mark-led ADC on April 1, 2026. INEC’s move plunged the party into a deeper internal crisis, which has persisted since 2025.
In an interview with News Central, Melaye said Nigeria’s electoral umpire misinterpreted the Court of Appeal’s ruling, adding that their decision depicts impartiality.
#SaveDemocracy: “They [INEC] have shown partiality. They have shown that they are a department of APC and we have lost confidence in them.”
Dino Melaye says the ADC party are submitting a petition to INEC over perceived partiality. pic.twitter.com/FauWz5X4Gf
— News Central TV (@NewsCentralTV) April 8, 2026
“We are here to submit our petition to INEC, and we are waiting for their representatives to come out so that we can submit our petition. The reason we are here is to submit our petition to INEC,” said Melaye.
“We are expecting that they will receive our letter and the president will either sack these people or they sack themselves because they have misinterpreted the court ruling and have shown partiality, and that they are a department of APC, and we have lost confidence in them.”
The electoral body’s ruling, which followed a Court of Appeal judgment on the party’s leadership dispute, said the party should maintain the status quo ante bellum. ADC members and some lawyers said INEC misinterpreted the court ruling and alleged bias.
“ADC has no faction; there is one ADC.”
At the #SaveDemocracy movement in Abuja, former Senate President David Mark says the African Democratic Congress has no factions and urges INEC to recognise the party’s leadership. pic.twitter.com/TL5ZVvCbDL
— News Central TV (@NewsCentralTV) April 8, 2026
Mark also voiced similar concerns on Wednesday. He told News Central that INEC’s decision does not depict the party’s current reality.
“Their interpretation has denied us of our proper status, and that is what we petitioned in the event that they should revert themselves and give the proper interpretation of the status quo ante bellum, and not remove the chairman. ADC has no faction. We have one ADC. That interpretation does not rhyme with the reality on the ground,” said Mark.
