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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) interpretation of a recent Court of Appeal ruling regarding the party’s internal leadership crisis.
In a statement released on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, ADC National Spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi described the commission’s decision to delist the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) as contradictory and biased.
We reject @inecnigeria’s interpretation of the Court of Appeal ruling.
We knew that INEC was being pressured by a government that has become jittery from the ADC’s rising momentum even in the face of its relentless assault on all opposition parties.
INEC’s press statement…
— Bolaji Abdullahi (@BolajiADC) April 1, 2026
The party alleges that the electoral body caved to external political pressure from a government intimidated by the ADC’s growing momentum.
The dispute stems from a March 12, 2026, appellate court order directing all parties to maintain the “status quo ante bellum” while a legal battle persists between a faction led by Senator David Mark and a rival group headed by Nafiu Bala.
Consequently, INEC removed the names of the Mark-led executive from its official portal, arguing that their initial upload in September 2025 occurred after the legal challenge had already been filed.
The commission maintains that this action is necessary to avoid preempting the court’s final decision.
In response to the delisting, the ADC stated it is currently reviewing its legal and political options and urged its members to remain steadfast.
While INEC has also refused to recognise the rival Bala faction to avoid violating court directives, it has suspended all formal engagements with the party—including the monitoring of congresses and conventions—until a definitive ruling is reached.
The ADC maintains that these administrative hurdles are a deliberate attempt to stifle the opposition as the country approaches future electoral cycles.
