The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seeking recognition of David Mark’s leadership. The party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) had passed a resolution to dissolve the existing National Working Committee and install an interim leadership led by David Mark, a former Senate President, as caretaker chairman. However, INEC has declined to recognize the new leadership, insisting that the old executive remains in charge.
According to reports, the leadership crisis emerged after the ADC announced a caretaker committee following the resignation of Ralph Okey Nwosu and other executive members. David Mark’s leadership structure includes Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary and Bolaji Abdullahi as Interim National Publicity Secretary. Despite the party’s NEC resolution, INEC’s official website still lists Ralph Okey Nwosu as the ADC’s National Chairman, alongside other top officials.
The ADC has vehemently denied reports that INEC refused to recognize David Mark’s leadership, describing such claims as “entirely false”. Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, urged Nigerians to ignore the reports and focus on mobilizing the long-suffering people of Nigeria for the great task of saving the country. Abdullahi emphasized that the leadership under David Mark remains legitimate and called on Nigerians to focus on the broader mission of national transformation.
However, a group under the umbrella of Concerned State Chairmen of the ADC has petitioned INEC over David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola’s moves, accusing them of hijacking the party. The group described the display of Mark and Aregbesola’s leadership as a desperate move to grab power, adding that such was an aberration of democratic principles and an assault on collective political values .
The ADC’s national secretariat is retained at “No 1 Capital Plaza, Nyanyan-Kuru Road, Abuja” with its official contact number. The party has reaffirmed its commitment to restructuring its internal processes, building democratic values, and providing a viable political alternative for Nigerians who seek transformation and credible leadership.
