The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has hit back at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and described the election regulator’s decision to suspend recognition of the David Mark-led national leadership as a direct attack on democracy that must not be allowed to stand.

The INEC had announced the suspension of the David Markleadership of the ADC, purportedly acting on a Court of Appeal judgment.

The ADC, at a world media briefing in Abuja, yesterday, also insisted that despite the position of INEC, it is still going ahead with its planned national convention and demanded the resignation of the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan and his entire executive, and expressed no confidence in the current INEC leadership.

The party called on the international community to take note of INEC’s actions of April 1, 2026 and of the restraint the party is exercising, urging them to recognise the clear threat to Nigeria’s democracy and stability, and hold accountable those who are undermining the integrity of the electoral process.

The opposition party, which also called on Nigerians to defend democracy, stressing that a defining moment has come and the need to stand firm, speak out and participate, urged Nigerians to resist any attempt to impose a one-party state on Nigeria.

It said that democracy is only sustained by the quality of freedom that it offers and guarantees, especially the freedom to choose, participate, and associate.

The ADC said the crux of the matter is the interpretation of what constitutes status quo ante bellum, which the Court of Appeal directed should be maintained.

INEC, however, dismissed calls for the removal of the Chairman of the Commission on account of its decision to obey the recent Court of Appeal judgment, noting that such calls are not only a distraction but a direct assault on the independence of the nation’s electoral umpire.

The electoral body also noted that the decision to revalidate the voters’ register pre-dates the appointment of Professor Amupitan.
Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman,Adedayo Oketola, stated yesterday that the calls for the Chairman’s removal were politically-motivated, noting that the appointment and tenure of the Commission’s leadership are strictly governed by Section 157 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“The proposed nationwide voter revalidation exercise is a professional necessity to strengthen the integrity of the National Register of Voters. The current register includes data spanning from 2011 to 2024. This exercise is designed to sanitise the register and is to be executed in phases.

“The revalidation is intended to confirm the status of registered voters, address issues arising from transfers, multiple registrations and deceased persons, and enhance the reliability of voter data in Nigeria. It is an administrative audit, not a fresh registration. It is not targeted at any region, party, or demographic. It is a uniform, transparent process that will be conducted across all Local Government Areas and Polling Units, with robust digital options for ease of access. All the stakeholders will be carried along on this issue”, it added.

MEANWHILE, the Kabiru Turaki-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised fresh concerns over what it described as growing threats to Nigeria’s democratic process, warning the INEC and other key national institutions against actions that could undermine the country’s political stability.

In a statement yesterday, by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the opposition party alleged that recent political developments point to “clear orchestrations and manipulation” targeted at weakening opposition parties ahead of future elections.

The party said the nation’s political climate had been “unnecessarily raised to near-fever levels,” warning that, like the human body, society could either adjust or “breakdown” under sustained pressure.

It, however, accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of pursuing electoral victory “at all costs,” alleging that such ambition risks eroding democratic norms and institutions.

The party, therefore, called on INEC and other national institutions to resist partisan pressures and act in the broader interest of the country.

HOWEVER, a faction of the ADC, led by Nafiu Bala Gombe, yesterday, called on INEC to respect the status quo and allow him to lead the party in line with its constitution.

The appeal follows INEC’s decision and its refusal to grant a request by the plaintiffs’ solicitors to allow Gombe to assume control of the party’s affairs pending the determination of the substantive case before a trial court.

Reacting to the development, Gombe said the appeal draws the Commission’s attention to an order of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/145/2026.

He, therefore, urged INEC to respect the existing court orders and the party’s constitution in resolving the ongoing leadership crisis.

However, ADC has said that Gombe was not an official of the party as he had already resigned his position on May 17 as one of the six deputy chairmen of the party.

The Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, stated this yesterday on Arise TV while reacting to the decision of the INEC to de-recognise the ADC National Chairman, Mark; National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, and others.

According to Abdulahi, the consequential part of that Court of Appeal ruling is that the status quo and ante bellum be maintained and Gombe’s lawyers are interpreting them to mean the position of state of things before he went to court on September 2.

THE 2023 presidential candidate of the ADC, DumebiKachikwu, has accused former Senate President, David Mark and members of his caretaker committee of being sponsored by the APC to destabilise the party to pave the way for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.

Kachikwu, who was reacting to Wednesday’s statement by the INEC that it had ceased to recognise Mark-led caretaker committee and any other faction of the party pending outcome of all courts matters, alleged that Ralph Nwosu, whose tenure as chairman of the party lapsed since August 21, 2022, sold ADC to former political office holders who have held sway over the affairs of Nigeria for the last 40 years.

He described Mark and others as “jumping from one political party to the other, having no ideology or belief system but standing for nothing and believing only in the notion that power is their birthright.”

Kachikwu wondered how ADC, the platform he contested in 2023 and would have presented himself again in 2027, suddenly became attractive to Mark and others, who recently joined the party.

APC equally launched a scathing attack on the ADC, accusing the opposition party of being responsible for its ongoing internal crisis.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the ruling party dismissed allegations by the ADC that the APC was working to destabilise it, insisting that the opposition party’s challenges were self-inflicted.

The APC described the ADC as “an assembly of Nigeria’s most confused and desperate politicians,” accusing it of promoting conspiracy theories about the ruling party.