The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has refuted claims suggesting a change in its leadership involving former Senate President David Mark and ex-party chairman Ralph Nwosu.
Reports circulating online had alleged that Mark stepped down as the party’s national chairman due to internal disagreements and pressure linked to recent developments involving the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The same reports claimed that Nwosu had been positioned to assume leadership and guide the party toward its upcoming national convention.
However, the ADC has firmly denied these assertions, describing them as false and misleading. In a statement shared on Sunday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, urged the public to disregard the claims, labeling them as fake news. He also encouraged people to report such information wherever it appears on social media platforms.
The controversy follows a recent action by INEC, which removed the names of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) led by Mark from its official portal. According to the electoral body, the decision was in line with a ruling by the Court of Appeal delivered on March 12, 2026.
INEC explained that the court directed all parties involved in the ongoing leadership dispute to maintain the status quo pending the determination of a substantive case before the Federal High Court in Abuja. The ruling also instructed stakeholders to avoid actions that could influence the outcome of the case.
The ADC has been dealing with a prolonged leadership crisis, with factions led by Nafiu Gombe and David Mark both claiming control of the party’s national structure. Despite INEC’s position, the Mark-led faction has rejected the commission’s interpretation of the court order and insists it remains the legitimate leadership.
The group has also continued preparations for its planned national convention, scheduled to take place in Abuja on April 14, even as the dispute remains unresolved.
Overall, the party maintains that no leadership change has occurred and has called on the public to rely only on official communications for accurate information.
