The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on Wednesday, April 1, suspended recognition of all leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing a ruling by the Court of Appeal and ongoing litigation over the party’s leadership.
ADC is Nigeria’s biggest opposition party, consisting of an alliance of some major politicians in the country, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, who came in second, third, and fourth positions, respectively, in the 2023 presidential election.
Other prominent stalwarts in the ADC are former Senate President David Mark, who is the National chairman of the party, Former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, who serves as National Secretary, and former Minister of Youth and Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, who serves as the party’s spokesperson.
The present ADC leadership emerged following the resignation of the party’s former executives, led by Ralph Nwosu, and the handing over of their authority to a new National Working Committee led by Mr David Mark on 29 July, 2025.
However, Nafiu Bala, a former vice-national chairman of the party, despite his formal written and signed resignation letter, proceeded to challenge the Mark-led ADC leadership in a court case in which he argues that he should be recognized as the legitimate chairman of the party in line with the party’s constitution.
In its judgment, the Court of Appeal ordered the parties, including INEC, which is listed as the 4th respondent, “to maintain the status quo ante bellum and refrain from taking any step or doing any act capable of foisting a fait accompli on the court or otherwise rendering nugatory the proceedings before the trial court.”
The court also ordered an accelerated hearing in view of the election timetable released by INEC.
Citing this ruling, INEC announced that it would remove from its portal the names of members of the party’s NWC led by Mr Mark, which had been uploaded in September, days after the suit was filed.
In a statement, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, said its decision followed the directive by the Court of Appeal directing that the two warring factions of the party maintain the status quo pending the determination of a substantive suit currently before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
“The Commission shall not receive any further communication or deal with any of the parties or groups pertaining to the affairs of the party and will not monitor any meeting, congress or convention convened on behalf of the ADC by any group until the matter is decided by the Federal High Court, Abuja so as not to do any act capable of foisting a fait accompli on the court or otherwise rendering nugatory the proceedings before the trial court,” the statement said.
Documents Reveal Gombe’s Resignation
Curiously, irrefutable evidence has emerged that INEC has in its possessions the signed resignation letters of Nafiu Bala from his position as National Vice Chairman of the ADC, which raises serious questions about the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) handling of the obviously contrived leadership dispute in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and fueling concerns over alleged inconsistencies and possible external influence in the matter.
The controversy comes on the heels of INEC’s statement on Wednesday, where the Commission maintained that its actions were strictly based on the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
However, documents now in circulation appear to challenge key claims central to the dispute.
One of the documents, dated May 17, 2025, is a resignation letter purportedly written by Hon. Nafiu Bala, indicating his decision to step down as Deputy National Chairman of the ADC. It reads:
“I… do hereby write to notify you of my resignation as a member of the National Working Committee of our great party… with effect from 26 May, 2025.”
The letter further states that the resignation was intended to facilitate “a smooth and effective coalition and restructuring,” while affirming continued loyalty to the party.
“My resignation does not in any way mean that I am abandoning the party, so I would be ready to serve in any other capacity I may be called upon in the future,” the document added.
In a separate correspondence addressed to INEC and dated July 21, 2025, the ADC formally notified the Commission of Bala’s resignation, stating that it had been “duly received, considered, and formally accepted” by the party’s National Working Committee in line with its constitution and the Electoral Act.
“This is to formally notify the Commission that Hon. Nafiu Bala… has resigned his position,” the letter stated, requesting INEC to update its records accordingly.
The document, acknowledged by INEC, reinforces the party’s position that the resignation was official and procedurally completed.
These revelations appear to contradict claims by Bala in ongoing litigation, where he insists he never resigned and should automatically assume the role of National Chairman following internal changes within the party.
The emergence of the documents has intensified scrutiny of INEC’s recent decisions, particularly its insistence on maintaining a “status quo ante bellum” that critics argue may not align with the factual sequence of events.
The unfolding situation raises fundamental questions about the Commission’s interpretation of the Court of Appeal ruling and whether its actions are inadvertent or deliberately contrived to create a leadership vacuum within the ADC.
With INEC declining to recognise any faction pending the determination of the case at the Federal High Court, stakeholders are now questioning whether the Commission’s stance reflects strict legal compliance or a broader political calculation.
The unfolding developments have added a new layer of tension to Nigeria’s political landscape, as parties begin early positioning ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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