ADC Crisis: Centre Asks Party To Seek Administrative Solutions

The Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA) has called for caution in handling the raging crisis in the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

It’s executive director, Ezenwa Nwagwu, warned that the current approach aimed at portraying the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as biased and casting it in a bad light is dangerous and should not be allowed.

Nwagwu said the approach is capable of eroding public trust in democratic institutions, even before the 2027 general elections.

According to PAACA, the current ADC crisis stems from a failure within the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms, noting that the breakdown in handling disagreements had unnecessarily escalated tensions.

Nwagwu added that if the ADC had addressed its internal disagreements through established administrative channels, much of the legal and public controversy could have been avoided.

He cited similar disputes in the past involving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which were addressed through administrative engagement without escalating tensions publicly.

“There is no need for the ADC’s grandstanding. This is a matter that could have been settled administratively. The ADC leadership could have approached INEC for the resolution of grey areas, while also initiating mediation within its ranks.

“When the PDP had similar issues, they approached INEC and the matters were resolved.

However, there is no evidence that the ADC leadership, led by David Mark, has met with INEC to resolve this matter,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Nwagwu called on the ADC leadership to prioritise institutional engagement over public confrontation, stressing that the issues in contention could still be addressed through established administrative channels.

While noting that opposition parties often deploy strategies to attract public sympathy, Nwagwu however cautioned that any party seeking power must put in the hard work, demonstrate due diligence, internal discipline, and respect for due process.

“Opposition status is not a shield against scrutiny. Parties seeking power must demonstrate that they can manage their own affairs in line with due process. That means investing in internal governance, resolving disputes transparently, and engaging institutions constructively,” he said.

The PAACA boss said the development highlights the need for political parties to strengthen internal governance and adhere strictly to procedural frameworks in managing disputes.

“Time and again, we have observed that many political parties in Nigeria do not have robust mechanisms to resolve internal conflicts,” he said.

On INEC, Nwagwu said the situation has placed the electoral body in a delicate position that requires careful handling, particularly in terms of public communication and maintaining institutional neutrality.

He said, “For INEC, it is a tricky situation. INEC has a legal department, and the Commission is currently headed by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. When you have too many legal experts in the room, the challenge is that you may be dealing with a crisis of legal interpretation.”