THE African Democratic Congress (ADC) has set next Thursday as the commencement date for the activities that will lead to its national convention scheduled for April 14, 2026.

Proceeding the national convention will be the screening of aspirants scheduled to hold on April 7, 2026; this, according to the party, is regardless of the position of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which has suspended recognition of the activities of the ADC.

The decision of the electoral umpire was based on a Court of Appeal judgement that ordered all parties involved in the leadership tussle of the party to stay action.

The National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi and National Organizing Secretary, Prince Chinedu Idigo, in a joint statement, dismissed the position of INEC and reaffirmed the party’s position to go ahead with its national convention.

The ADC had accused the ruling party of pressuring INEC to destabilize the opposition coalition.

A suspended member of the ADC, Nafiu Bala had gone to court to challenge the David Mark-led leadership of the ADC.

Documents, however, indicate that Bala was not only suspended but expelled by his home state chapter of the ADC in Gombe.

Bala, believed to have presented himself as willing tool to destabilize the wave-making opposition ADC has attempted a weak argument that his signatures were forged.

An argument many view as not plausible.
According to the ADC, appeals of screening exercise will hold on April 8, 2026; pulling unit, Ward and local Government congresses will take on April 9, 2026, while appeals will sit on April 10, 2026.

The party said it will conduct state congresses on April 11, 2026; appeals for the state congresses will be on April 12, and the national convention will take place on April 14, 2026.

The ADC described the position of INEC as illegal, stressing that due notice was served the electoral body ahead of its forthcoming national activities.

The brief statement read: “This is to notify all party members that, despite INEC’s illegal actions, the African Democratic Congress will continue with it’s Congresses as scheduled, having duly notified INEC by our letters dated 27th February, 2026 and 28th March, 2026.”