By Vincent Egunyanga and David Lawani, Abuja
A fierce political confrontation erupted on Thursday as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) traded accusations over the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the internal leadership crisis rocking the opposition party, with former Senate President, Senator David Mark, demanding the resignation of the electoral umpire’s chairman.
Speaking at a world press conference in Abuja, Mark, who chairs the ADC caretaker committee, accused INEC of partisanship and bias, alleging that the commission’s withdrawal of recognition of the party’s leadership amounted to interference capable of undermining Nigeria’s democratic foundations.
“We no longer have confidence in them. We are convinced that they are incapable of conducting any credible election,” Mark declared.
He warned that democracy thrives on the freedom of association and political participation, insisting that recent developments signalled a systematic attempt to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Our experience in the past three years confirms that democracy is under assault. The agenda appears designed to leave Nigerians with no viable alternative in the next election,” he stated.
Mark argued that the ADC followed due constitutional procedures in restructuring its leadership, citing the July 29, 2025, National Executive Committee meeting monitored by INEC, which approved a caretaker committee headed by him as chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as secretary.
According to him, the meeting resolutions were duly communicated to the electoral commission, which subsequently updated its records to reflect the new leadership structure before reversing its position.
He explained that Nafiu Bala, a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, had resigned before approaching the court to challenge the leadership arrangement, stressing that the Court of Appeal directed all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending determination of the dispute.
Mark faulted INEC’s interpretation of the court order, arguing that the commission acted unilaterally in a manner capable of eroding confidence in democratic institutions.
“If INEC was genuinely uncertain about the legal position, it should have sought judicial clarification rather than take unilateral action that undermines democratic order,” he said.
Describing the situation as a defining moment for Nigeria’s democracy, Mark called on citizens and the international community to closely monitor political developments in the country.
“We call on Nigerians to defend democracy and resist any attempt to impose a one-party state,” he added.
I won’t quit, INEC chair, Amupitan, tells ADC
Meanwhile, the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, has ruled out any plan to resign amid mounting pressure from opposition figures, insisting that the electoral umpire merely complied with a subsisting Court of Appeal judgment in handling the leadership dispute within the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
INEC said calls for the chairman’s removal were misplaced and constituted an attack on the electoral body’s independence, stressing that its decisions were guided strictly by the Constitution and existing court orders.
In a statement issued Thursday by the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, the Commission maintained that the appointment, tenure, and removal of the chairman and national commissioners are governed by Section 157 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and cannot be influenced by partisan interests.
“The Chairman does not hold office at the pleasure of any political party or interest group. Any call for removal outside the established constitutional process is not only a distraction but a direct assault on the independence of the nation’s electoral umpire,” the statement said.
INEC explained that its decision regarding the leadership dispute in the ADC was informed by the need to avoid a repeat of legal complications witnessed in Zamfara and Plateau states, where elected officials were removed by election tribunals for disobeying court judgments.
According to the Commission, it acted to comply with both the judgment of the Court of Appeal and a preservative order restraining it from taking steps that could render ongoing proceedings at the Federal High Court nugatory.
“Proceeding to monitor the congress and convention of the David Mark-led ADC would amount to disobedience of that order since the reliefs sought include restraining INEC from monitoring any meeting, congress or convention of the party,” the statement noted.
INEC further clarified that the order to maintain status quo ante bellum required the parties to revert to their positions before the dispute began, insisting that Section 287(2) of the Constitution mandates that all authorities obey and enforce judgments of the Court of Appeal.
The Commission dismissed allegations that its actions were part of a broader plan to undermine multi-party democracy, pointing to the recent registration of new political parties as evidence of its commitment to political pluralism.
“Far from undermining the multi-party system, the Commission has actively expanded the democratic space. The registration of additional political parties brings the number of active parties to 22, rebutting claims of a one-party agenda,” it said.
INEC also addressed concerns over its planned nationwide voter revalidation exercise, clarifying that the programme predates the appointment of the current chairman and is intended to sanitise the national voters’ register compiled between 2011 and 2024.
The Commission described the exercise as an administrative audit designed to confirm voter status, eliminate multiple registrations and remove deceased persons from the register.
“It is not a fresh registration and is not targeted at any region, party or demographic. It is a uniform and transparent process to enhance the credibility of elections,” the statement added.
INEC said it remained focused on preparations for the forthcoming off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, stressing that it would not be distracted by allegations of bias.
“Our allegiance remains solely to the Constitution and the will of the Nigerian people,” it stated.
*You are the architect of your woes, APC fires back
However, the ruling APC dismissed the allegations, accusing the ADC leadership of orchestrating its own internal crisis through what it described as constitutional violations and political miscalculation.
In a statement issued in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the party maintained that INEC acted within the law in withdrawing recognition of the disputed leadership.
“The ADC is a party that never was. Its leadership crisis stems from reckless and desperate misadventure that violated its own constitutional provisions,” Morka said.
He insisted that the electoral commission’s decision was consistent with established legal and democratic norms, rejecting claims of political interference.
“The decision of INEC is valid in law, justified in fact, and consistent with electoral policy and democratic practice,” he stated.
The APC further argued that any political party unable to manage its internal affairs effectively lacks the capacity to provide national leadership.
“A party that cannot fix itself cannot possibly fix Nigeria,” Morka added.
*Falana warns judicial interference risks one-party state
Meanwhile, prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has cautioned that increased judicial involvement in political party disputes could weaken democratic competition and pave the way for a one-party state.
Speaking at the fifth Comrade Yinka Odumakin Memorial Lecture in Lagos, Falana warned that conflicting court rulings were being deployed in ways that could destabilise opposition parties ahead of the next general election cycle.
“If the manipulation of party structures continues, Nigeria risks having only one presidential candidate in the next election,” Falana warned.
Also speaking at the event, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, expressed concern over what he described as a gradual drift towards a one-party political system, urging civil society organisations and democratic actors to remain vigilant in defence of political pluralism.
Both leaders stressed the need for Nigerians to safeguard democratic institutions actively, warning that the erosion of multiparty competition could weaken accountability and diminish public confidence in elections.
