The leadership crisis in the African Democratic Congress has deepened after a fresh faction emerged and threw its weight behind the Independent National Electoral Commission’s position on the party’s internal dispute. The new bloc rejected both the David Mark and Nafiu Bala factions and said it would move to stabilise the party through an interim arrangement pending a national convention.
The latest development follows INEC’s decision to delist the David Mark-led leadership from its records, a move the commission said was tied to existing court orders and the need to maintain the status quo while legal proceedings continue. The electoral body’s stance has intensified tensions within the party and triggered competing claims of legitimacy.
Members of the new faction, identified in multiple reports as part of the party’s state chairmen forum, said they support INEC’s action and do not recognise the rival leadership camps currently laying claim to the ADC structure. The group also announced plans for interim leadership measures as the party battles to avoid further disarray ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.
The David Mark camp has, however, faulted INEC’s position and warned that the commission’s directive could affect the party’s ability to field candidates in future elections. That faction has also accused the electoral body of acting in a manner that could undermine opposition politics, though critics insist the crisis is rooted in the ADC’s own unresolved internal divisions.
The widening split leaves the ADC facing deeper uncertainty at a time when parties are expected to consolidate ahead of the next round of electoral activities. With rival groups asserting control and fresh alignments forming around INEC’s interpretation of the dispute, the party’s internal crisis appears far from settled.
