A prominent political pressure group, the Arewa Youth Wing of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has formally called upon the factional leadership led by the former Senate President, Senator David Mark, to initiate urgent diplomatic engagement with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The appeal follows the recent decision by the electoral umpire to derecognize the Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) from its official portal, a move that has thrown the party into a profound administrative crisis. The group argues that unless a high-level dialogue is convened to resolve the legal and technical discrepancies cited by the commission, the party risks being excluded from upcoming electoral cycles, including the crucial 2026 governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States.
The leadership tussle within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) intensified after a Court of Appeal ruling prompted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to revert to the status quo, effectively sidelining the caretaker committee chaired by Senator David Mark and National Secretary, Rafiu Aregbesola. A rival faction, led by Chief Nafiu Bala Gombe, has claimed legitimacy, asserting that the emergence of the Mark-led executive did not follow the party’s constitutional guidelines. The Arewa Youth Wing, however, contends that the removal of a figure of Senator Mark’s stature from the leadership register is a threat to the party’s internal democracy and could lead to a mass exodus of members to other political platforms if not handled with strategic maturity.
Stakeholders within the party have expressed divergent views on the commission’s action. While some legal practitioners argue that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) acted prematurely in implementing a “status quo” order that remains subject to further judicial interpretation, others maintain that the commission is simply adhering to the rule of law to avoid future litigations that could void the party’s primary elections. The National Vice Chairman of the rival faction, Nafiu Bala Gombe, has consistently maintained that he remains the only legally recognized acting head of the party, further complicating the efforts for a unified front. The group urging intervention insists that the party cannot afford a protracted legal battle that would drain its resources and dampen the morale of its supporters ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Political analysts suggest that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) crisis is emblematic of the broader challenges facing third-force parties in Nigeria, where internal disputes often lead to “derecognition” by the state. The involvement of a heavyweight like Senator David Mark was initially seen as a move to give the party national leverage; however, the current deadlock suggests that even high-profile leadership cannot bypass the intricacies of party constitutionality. The broader implication is that if the Mark-led faction fails to reach a compromise or secure a definitive court victory, the party’s influence may wane, leaving the political space dominated by the two major parties. The call for engagement with INEC is therefore seen as a pragmatic step toward salvaging the party’s corporate existence.
