ADC Chairmen Threaten Protest, Demand Mark’s Removal

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) National Executive Committee Chairmen Forum has threatened a nationwide protest against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the party’s leadership crisis.

The forum is demanding that INEC remove Senator David Mark and members of his dissolved Interim National Working Committee from its official portal and recognise the faction led by Nafiu Bala Gombe following a recent Federal High Court judgment.

The forum’s secretary, Kennedy Odion, announced the position while addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday, November 6, 2026.

The demand followed a judgment delivered on Thursday by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which nullified the Mark-led interim leadership and decisions taken under its authority.

Odion said the ruling supported the forum’s longstanding position that the interim committee lacked the constitutional authority to organise party congresses and a national convention.

He urged INEC to update its records to reflect the leadership recognised by the judgment and reopen its candidate nomination portal to allow the ADC to conduct fresh primaries where necessary and submit candidates for the 2027 general elections.

The forum also argued that the ruling affected the nominations of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and other candidates who emerged through processes organised by the Mark-led leadership.

Odion warned that the forum would proceed with nationwide protests if INEC failed to comply with the court’s decision.

“Failure to comply with this latest judgment will leave us no option but to proceed with our planned nationwide protest against the electoral umpire,” he said.

The chairmen maintained that they had pursued legal channels to resolve the dispute rather than allow tensions among party members and aspirants to escalate.

The ADC has been embroiled in a prolonged leadership crisis involving the Mark-led interim committee and the faction associated with Bala Gombe. Earlier court proceedings also addressed the tenure of elected state executive committees and the authority to organise party congresses.

The forum said it was still awaiting the Supreme Court’s consideration of related litigation arising from the earlier dispute.

The latest development adds to uncertainty surrounding the party’s preparations for the 2027 elections. INEC’s response to the forum’s latest demands and the outcome of further legal proceedings will be important in determining the next steps in the dispute.