The African Democratic Congress (ADC) National Executive Committee Chairmen Forum has threatened to stage a nationwide protest against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the party’s lingering leadership crisis.
The forum warned that it would mobilise members across the country if the electoral commission failed to implement the latest judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which removed the interim national leadership headed by Senator David Mark.
The group is demanding that INEC immediately recognise Nafiu Bala Gombe as the authentic national chairman of the ADC and update its records to reflect the court’s decision.
It also wants the commission to remove the names of Mark and other members of his dissolved Interim National Working Committee from its official portal.
The chairmen further asked INEC to reopen its candidate nomination portal to allow the party to conduct fresh primaries where necessary and submit the names of its candidates for the 2027 general elections.
The forum’s Secretary, Kennedy Odion, made the demands while addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday.
He said the latest court ruling had settled important questions surrounding the legitimacy of the Mark-led interim leadership.
The judgment was delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
It nullified the position of the Mark-led interim National Working Committee and decisions taken under its leadership.
According to Odion, the ruling also affected the validity of the candidates produced through the dissolved committee’s congresses and national convention.
These include the nomination of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate and the emergence of other political figures seeking elective positions under the ADC.
He maintained that the decision supported the position previously taken by the party’s state chairmen, who had challenged the authority of the interim leadership.
Odion insisted that the forum had always maintained that the Mark-led committee lacked the constitutional authority to control the affairs of the party.
He said the group would no longer accept any action by INEC that contradicted the court’s pronouncements.
“We, the only legally recognised NEC members, accept in its entirety the judgment declaring our own Alhaji Nafiu Bala Gombe the authentic national chairman of the ADC.
“Failure to comply with this latest judgment will leave us no option but to proceed with our planned nationwide protest against the electoral umpire. Nigeria is for all of us. No individual, however highly placed, is above the law,” Odion said.
The forum also argued that the latest ruling had raised questions about the status of political arrangements made by the dissolved interim leadership.
Odion specifically mentioned Atiku Abubakar, his running mate, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, and other individuals who emerged through the Mark-led leadership structure.
He maintained that their emergence could not be regarded as valid party nominations following the court’s decision.
The disagreement within the ADC has continued for months, with two major camps laying claim to the party’s leadership.
One faction is associated with former Senate President David Mark, while the other is led by Nafiu Bala Gombe.
The crisis has generated several legal battles, with disagreements over the party’s national leadership, state congresses and national convention.
Before the latest judgment, the ADC state chairmen had secured an earlier ruling from the Federal High Court in Abuja.
On April 29, 2026, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik delivered a judgment affirming the continued tenure of elected state executive committees until valid congresses were conducted and a national convention properly convened.
The court also restrained INEC from recognising congresses organised by the interim National Working Committee.
The decision was subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeal on June 13, 2026.
However, Odion alleged that INEC continued to recognise the Mark-led leadership despite the earlier court decisions.
He accused the commission of accepting candidates and recognising political activities organised under the disputed interim committee.
He said the forum had taken steps to challenge the commission’s position through legal channels, particularly because the wider leadership dispute was still awaiting a final decision at the Supreme Court.
According to him, the chairmen deliberately chose the judicial process instead of encouraging members to confront one another over the disagreement.
He explained that their decision to remain within the law helped prevent a possible breakdown of order among party members who were dissatisfied with the leadership arrangement.
Odion said the restraint demonstrated by the forum had prevented tensions from escalating into violence, particularly among members and aspirants whose political ambitions were affected by the crisis.
“The maturity shown by the NEC Chairmen Forum as law-abiding members of society prevented a melee and saved the lives of agitated and disenchanted party members and candidates,” he said.
The forum’s secretary also praised the judiciary for its handling of the leadership dispute.
He described the latest judgment as an important development in the effort to resolve the disagreements within the party.
He accused the dissolved interim leadership of making statements against the judiciary but maintained that the courts had demonstrated their commitment to the rule of law.
While the forum awaits the Supreme Court’s decision in the earlier litigation, Odion expressed support for Bala Gombe and urged ADC members to rally behind the leadership recognised by the latest judgment.
He congratulated Gombe and other party members who supported his faction, expressing optimism that the development would help restore order and stability within the ADC.
