Mark-led ADC NWC Ignores INEC, Holds Congresses

Kogi, Niger, Enugu, Katsina chapters in turmoil, Borno exercise postponed

The David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) yesterday conducted its state congresses ahead of the 14 April national convention, despite ongoing court cases and warnings from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The development comes amid a deepening leadership crisis within the party, with multiple factions claiming its structure and legitimacy across several states.

INEC had earlier warned that it would not recognise or monitor congresses conducted by any faction of the party, following the de-recognition of the party’s National Working Committee led by David Mark in line with a Court of Appeal ruling, and directed all parties to maintain the status quo pending the resolution of the dispute.

The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has taken a legal dimension following a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe challenging the emergence of David Mark as national chairman of the party.

In the suit before the Federal High Court, Gombe contends that he never resigned his position as deputy national chairman and, by the party’s constitution, should assume leadership following the exit of former chairman Ralph Nwosu.

However, the David Mark-led group has insisted on proceeding with the congresses, maintaining that due process was followed and that the exercise remains valid within the party’s constitution.

In Kaduna State, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) said it conducted its polling units, wards, local government, zonal and state congresses through consensus.

Speaking with one of our correspondents on the telephone, the ADC State Publicity Secretary, Darius Kurah, said the party affirmed the executives produced through consensus. He said there was no court order stopping their congresses.

He said, “Our congresses started on 7 April with the screening of aspirants, and appeals took place on 8 April 2026.

“Then the congress for polling units, wards and local government congresses started properly on 9 April 2026, and appeals for the polling units, wards and local government congresses were on 10 April, which was yesterday.”

Kurah added, “Our zonal and state congresses were conducted today, Saturday, through consensus. Everything happened under consensus, and we are only affirming the consensus.

“There was no court order stopping us. The court issue you are asking about involved ADC legacy executives, and it has nothing to do with the coalition leadership in the state.

“The state leadership is headed by Bashir Saidu, with Ibrahim Ali as the secretary, among other executives,” he stated.

In Kogi,  fresh controversy has continued to trail last Thursday’s Local Government Congress of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kogi State, with rival factions sharply divided over the legitimacy of the exercise, reflecting the wider national leadership tussle.

While a faction loyal to Senator Tunde Ogbeha, who is North Central Vice Chairman of the party in David  Mark’s NWC, insists the congress was conducted in line with the party’s constitution and established guidelines, another group aligned with Hon. Leke Abejide, member representing Yagba Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has dismissed the process as a wasted exercise.

The ADC held its Local Government Congress across the state, electing new executives, in what organisers described as a significant step toward strengthening the party’s grassroots structure.

However, the State Chairman of the faction loyal to Honourable Abejide, Kingsley Temitope Ogga, rejected the exercise, maintaining that it contravenes the directive of INEC.

In a telephone interview, Ogga described the congress as a violation of due process.

“What they have done is in gross violation of INEC’s directive,” he said.

“As law-abiding members, we are committed to upholding the rule of law. INEC has clearly instructed us to maintain the status quo,” Oga added.

He further questioned the legitimacy of the congress’s outcomes, noting that INEC had suspended recognition of the party’s activities.

“Where do they intend to submit the results? To the best of my knowledge, INEC is not receiving any correspondence from us at the moment. That is why I say the exercise is illegal,” he added.

Earlier, Ogga’s faction had announced the suspension of all previously scheduled Ward, Local Government, and State Congresses.

According to a statement signed by Ogga, the decision was taken in strict compliance with INEC’s directive.

The electoral body has maintained that it will not monitor or recognise any congresses conducted by any faction of the party until the leadership dispute is resolved.

Reacting to INEC’s position, the David Mark-led faction insisted that the commission’s stance does not invalidate internal party processes, arguing that the congresses were conducted in line with the party’s laid-down guidelines and democratic principles.

However,  the Osun State chapter of the party held its congress under a peaceful atmosphere in Osogbo, with security operatives on the ground.

The rancour-free congress, presided over by the chairman of the Osun State Congress Committee, Hon. Mudasiru Akinlabi from the national secretariat of the party, had delegates from the 30 local governments of the state converge at Oranmiyan House, Aregbe area, Osogbo, venue of the congress.

The state executive committee that emerged by consensus is: Chairman, Alhaji Issa Adesiji Azeez; Secretary, Hon. Adelani Baderinwa; Treasurer, Dr (Mrs) Adepeju Adigun; Women Leader, Hon. Funmilade Oyebode.

Others include Youth Leader, Ademola Owoade; Organising Secretary, Olajide Sadiq; PWD Leader, Hon. Asaolu; Publicity Secretary, Abosede Oluwaseun; Financial Secretary, Hon. Olateju Muideen; Assistant Financial Secretary, Dare Olowoyeye.

Stalwarts of the party in the state that were present at the congress included the governorship candidate of the party in the 15 August election, Dr. Najeem Salaam, and his running mate, Mrs Yemisi Agiri, among others.

In his acceptance speech, Alhaji Adesiji Azeez called on members of the new Osun exco to tighten their belts for the task ahead, adding that the responsibility of winning the August 15 governorship election rests on them.

“May I also seize this opportunity to appeal to our leaders and members generally to support us in this pursuit for the good of Osun and its people. I especially call on all people of good conscience to join me and my team in working to win the election, as teamwork makes success easier,” Azeez posited.

The crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) added another dimension in Enugu State, where multiple congresses were held, resulting in parallel executive structures.

It was gathered that one of the congresses was inclusive, while another produced Professor Augustine Akuebua as the factional state chairman of the party in the state.

A former governor of Enugu State, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, attended the congress that produced Professor Akuebua.

It was further learnt that another congress was held at an undisclosed location in Enugu.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC), Enugu State, has been enveloped in a deep internal crisis and conflicting directives from the party’s national leadership.

The National Organising Secretary (NOS), Chinedu Idigo, allegedly issued three different letters, each naming different members for the state’s Congress Committee, further highlighting the leadership crisis at the national level.

The development led to confusion among local stakeholders about who was legally authorised to conduct the exercise.

Apparently perturbed by the conflicting letters, one of the national leaders of the party from Enugu State, Kenneth Okonkwo, who addressed party members earlier, alleged that the confusion was a “grand design” by internal “moles” and external forces, specifically the APC, to destabilise the ADC in Enugu ahead of the 2027 elections.

He stressed the need to resolve some of the issues before the commencement of any congress, hence his decision to come to Enugu.

In Niger State, the ADC congress has been postponed by 24 hours to enable the party to resolve the various conflicts arising from the local government congresses.

The interim chairman of the party in the state, Shuaibu Umar, told LEADERSHIP Sunday that there was a need to start on a good footing, hence the need to resolve the conflicts emanating from the local government congresses.

He said, “In a few hours, that is tomorrow, the congress will take place. We are trying to resolve the little complaints from the local government congresses before we hold the state congress.”

Asked whether there were problems with old executives of the party in the state, he said, “We have to manage it. We have absorbed the old members into various positions for cohesion.”

Umar said the system adopted was to make the old executives part of the new set and give everybody a sense of belonging to avoid cracks.

In Nasarawa State, former deputy governor, Chief Michael Abdul, was elected State Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Chief Abdul emerged through a vote of delegates during the party’s congress held in Lafia on Saturday.

Before his emergence as substantive chairman, the former deputy governor had served in an interim capacity from the formative stage of the alliance that led to the adoption of the ADC as the platform of choice ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Chief Abdul and some stakeholders had pulled out of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the coalition movement following internal strife that gripped the erstwhile main opposition party.

A key stakeholder of the party and former state commissioner for justice, Barrister Musa Elayo, told LEADERSHIP Sunday that the ADC decided to adopt a consensus arrangement to elect new party leaders at all levels.

He said the exercise had been seamless from the ward, local government and state levels, even as he commended stakeholders for ensuring a rancour-free process.

Asked whether the leadership crisis, which fragmented the party into three camps and resulted in the recent de-recognition of the Mark-led National Working Committee by INEC, had factionalised the party in the state, he said there were no camps.

He noted that it was wrong to assume that there were factions, stressing that Nafiu Gombe was acting alone and had no followers among members.

Also speaking, a governorship aspirant on the party’s platform, Jibrin Sabo Keana, noted that the party would come out stronger.

He commended the conduct of the congresses, describing them as seamless.

He hailed Abdul’s emergence as state chairman, noting that the former PDP leader had been a unifying force.

Similarly, in Edo State, the ADC produced Hon. Tony Alile as State Chairman following a consensus-based congress.

A former governor of the state and national leader of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, urged party members to remain focused, stressing that the ADC aims to provide a credible opposition platform.

Also, in Delta State, the party on Saturday held its congress to elect members of its State Executive Committee (SEC), alongside a stakeholders’ meeting, with a call for the protection of democratic values in the country and urging the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) to allow a level playing field.

The coalition, which included members of parties such as the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), among others, stated that its aim was to resolve issues among coalition partners and strengthen party unity.

In Katsina State, however, the process was stalled following a High Court order restraining the party from conducting congresses pending the resolution of a leadership dispute.

LEADERSHIP Sunday checks revealed that the party had finalised plans to commence its congresses in early April, with the process expected to run from the polling unit level to the state structure.

However, the exercise was disrupted by a High Court order obtained by Musa Usman Wamba, restraining the party from proceeding pending the resolution of a leadership dispute.

The ruling, which is yet to be vacated or set aside, directed all parties to maintain the status quo and barred the conduct or recognition of any congress within the state during the period of litigation.

The development has thrown the party into uncertainty, as stakeholders remain divided over the legitimacy of any congress allegedly conducted before or after the court order.

Legal observers note that any such exercise carried out in defiance of a subsisting court directive risks being declared null and void.

Sources within the party said that while some factions made attempts to proceed with internal arrangements, there is no broadly accepted or legally recognised outcome of any congress in the state.

The crisis has further exposed deep divisions within the party, with rival groups advancing conflicting positions on the way forward.

While one faction is insisting on strict compliance with the court ruling and calling for entirely fresh congresses, another bloc led by Lawal Tukur Batagaraw is believed to be pushing for congress or negotiations to stabilise the party.

Political observers warn that the lingering dispute could weaken the ADC’s structure in Katsina if not resolved quickly, especially as parties begin early positioning ahead of the 2027 general elections.

A prolonged leadership tussle, they argue, may affect the party’s ability to mobilise effectively across the state’s 34 local government areas.

For now, the fate of the congresses remains uncertain, as the party’s next steps depend largely on the outcome of ongoing legal proceedings.

In Kwara State, ADC on Saturday affirmed its executive council members through a consensus arrangement at its state congress.

It, however, left the position of state chairman unresolved following disagreement between two contenders.

The contest for the chairmanship position pitted former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman, Honourable Babatunde Mohammed, against Adetoro Adebayo, both of whom insisted on contesting the seat rather than adopting a consensus option.

The development prompted party leaders to invite the two aspirants to address delegates at the congress, as efforts to broker an agreement between them failed.

Speaking at the event, a party leader, Prof. Gana Yisa, urged members to take the ADC’s message to the grassroots, expressing confidence that the party would record significant success in the 2027 general elections despite prevailing challenges.

The exercise was, however, briefly disrupted when an aggrieved member stormed the venue and began pelting party leaders and members with sachets of water.

The individual was swiftly apprehended by security personnel and handed over to authorities, after which the congress continued and concluded peacefully.

Leader of the delegation from Abuja, Engr. Gambo Daniel described the congress as successful, noting that the process followed a structured progression from the polling unit level to the state level.

Daniel said the party would convene a stakeholders’ meeting with community leaders and the two chairmanship aspirants to reach a consensus.

“If consensus is not achieved, the party will conduct a direct primary election to determine the chairman,” he said.

Concerning the absence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Daniel said the commission had been duly notified of the congress.

Commenting on the disruption, he described it as the action of a disgruntled individual.

“There was a disgruntled element who attempted to disrupt the peace of the congress, but the situation was quickly brought under control, and the exercise concluded peacefully,” he said.

Other positions affirmed at the congress include Alh Mas’ud Adebimpe as state vice chairman, Samuel Wole Oke (vice chairman II), Ibrahim Bolaji (secretary), Adam Zakariya (treasurer), Abdulsalam Olarewaju (assistant treasurer), Abdulrasheed Risikat (assistant organising secretary), Makun Issa (assistant financial secretary), Kabir Abubakar Basambo (publicity secretary), Olaoye (legal adviser), Bashir Omokayode Yusuf (assistant legal adviser), and Maryam Saka as woman leader.

The Borno State Chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has not held its congress as of Saturday.

When contacted regarding the congress, the Chairman of the party in the State, Hon Yerima Umara Bolori, said the congress might be held on a later date

He said he has no faction following reconciliation, as members have agreed to work in harmony to provide a credible alternative in the 2027 Polls.

Meanwhile, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the exercise was largely successful nationwide, despite pockets of challenges.

“Yes, there are a few issues in some states, and it is not unexpected. I can assure you that they will be resolved before the national convention,” he said.