ADC Chairmen Threaten Nationwide Protest, Demand Mark’s Removal From INEC Portal

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

The forum also demanded the immediate removal of Senator David Mark and members of his dissolved Interim National Working Committee from INEC’s portal, insisting that the commission should replace their names with those of Nafiu Bala Gombe and other officials it described as the legally recognised leadership of the party.

The demands followed Thursday’s judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, which nullified the Mark-led interim leadership of the party and its decisions.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday, the Secretary of the forum, Kennedy Odion, said the judgment had vindicated the position of the party’s elected state chairmen, who had challenged the legitimacy of the interim national leadership.

Odion said the forum expected INEC to immediately comply with the court’s decision by updating its records and recognising Bala Gombe as the authentic national chairman of the ADC.

He also called on the electoral commission to reopen its candidate nomination portal to enable the party to conduct fresh primaries where necessary and upload the names of its candidates for the 2027 general elections.

According to him, the judgment invalidated decisions taken by the Mark-led interim committee, including the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate, and other candidates produced through its congresses and national convention.

The forum warned that failure by INEC to implement the judgment would compel it to proceed with a planned nationwide protest against the commission.

“Failure to comply with this latest judgment will leave us no option but to proceed with our planned nationwide protest against the electoral umpire. Nigeria is for all of us. No individual, however highly placed, is above the law,” Odion said.

The forum recalled that it had earlier secured a judgment delivered by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on April 29, 2026, which affirmed the tenure of elected state executive committees pending the conduct of valid state congresses and a national convention.

It said the Court of Appeal upheld the judgment on June 13, 2026, but accused INEC of failing to comply with the orders restraining it from recognising congresses organised by the Mark-led interim committee.

The chairmen further disclosed that they had taken the matter to the Supreme Court and filed applications seeking accelerated hearing of the appeals, although a hearing date was still being awaited.

Odion said the forum had exercised restraint despite the growing tension within the party, adding that members had previously mobilised for a nationwide protest before the latest judgment was delivered.

He commended the judiciary for what he described as its courage in upholding justice and urged Bala Gombe to work towards restoring unity and stability in the party.

The ADC leadership crisis has generated uncertainty over the party’s preparations for the 2027 general elections, particularly the status of candidates who emerged through the disputed interim leadership.

The forum said it was prepared to support Bala Gombe in rebuilding the party, while urging INEC to ensure that its records reflected the latest court decision.

However, reacting to the forum’s position, the Deputy Secretary-General of the Grassroots Mobilisation Network (GMN), an ADC support group, Sadiq Lwafu, dismissed the chairmen as “jobless, faceless individuals” allegedly recruited by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He alleged that their activities were part of a wider plan by President Bola Tinubu to destabilise the opposition.