The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) intensified on Thursday as opposing factions led by former Senate President, David Mark, and party chieftain, Ralph Nwosu, took their battle with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court and the public space, amid disputes over recognition and control of party structures.
The dispute centres on the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission to delist the names of Mark as National Chairman and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as National Secretary of the ADC from its official portal.
In a fresh motion filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, the Mark-led faction urged Justice Emeka Nwite to compel INEC to immediately restore its leadership structure and halt what it described as “interference” in the party’s internal affairs.
Through his counsel, Sulaiman Usman (SAN), Mark asked the court for a mandatory injunction setting aside INEC’s decision and directing the commission to recognise the existing National Working Committee (NWC) pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The former Senate President also prayed the court to restrain INEC from “tampering with or giving effect to any contrary leadership claims” within the party, warning that the commission’s action risked rendering the case nugatory.
The application followed INEC’s removal of the party’s leadership details from its website on April 1, a development the plaintiffs said amounted to a de facto derecognition of the current ADC executive.
Usman argued that the Court of Appeal had earlier ordered parties to maintain the “status quo ante bellum,” insisting that the position of the law preserved Mark as the duly recognised national chairman before the emergence of the current dispute.
He further contended that INEC misinterpreted the appellate court’s directive, creating a leadership vacuum capable of destabilising the party and undermining internal democracy.
“The law is settled that a mandatory injunction may be granted where a party seeks restoration of a position wrongfully altered,” he submitted, urging the court to act in the interest of justice.
In a separate motion, the Mark-led faction also sought accelerated hearing of the suit, citing the “far-reaching implications” of the leadership crisis on the party’s preparation for the 2027 general elections.
Meanwhile, the internal tensions escalated as Nwosu dismissed claims that INEC’s position could derail the party’s programmes, insisting that the ADC would proceed with its planned congresses and national convention despite the legal and administrative uncertainties.
Speaking during a television interview, Nwosu maintained that the party had complied with all statutory requirements in submitting its schedules to INEC.
“We are taking necessary action both in court and with INEC, but we will not allow INEC to derail any of our programmes,” he said, adding that the party’s congresses were already underway.
He disclosed that the ADC leadership had resolved to continue its political activities, including preparations for its national convention slated for April 14, where he said ongoing internal processes would be ratified.
Nwosu also stressed that the party would continue to notify INEC of its activities, but warned that failure by the commission to acknowledge such notifications would not halt its plans.
“The congresses have already started. Our national convention will also go on,” he added.
The leadership dispute, which has split the ADC into rival camps, stems from competing claims over the legitimacy of the National Working Committee following internal restructuring and court-related interventions.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court had earlier declined an ex parte request seeking to halt the Mark-led executive, instead ordering parties to maintain status quo and to show cause why interim reliefs should not be granted.
The matter, now before both the Federal High Court and the appellate court, continues to raise concerns over possible parallel leadership structures within the opposition party as the 2027 political season approaches.
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