The Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) recent decision to officially recognise David Mark as the National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as the National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has brought a major shift in the party’s leadership crisis—but not an end to it.
As the 2027 elections draw near, the new leadership must now prove they can unite the party and offer a viable national alternative in Nigeria’s deeply fractured political landscape.
The ADC, once seen as a fringe political party, gained prominence earlier this year when opposition figures sought a unified front under its platform. The inclusion of political heavyweights like Mark and Aregbesola was meant to strengthen the coalition. However, the alliance quickly faced internal resistance from long-standing party members who viewed the coalition as a hostile takeover.
Leading the opposition was Nafiu Bala, former Deputy National Chairman, who declared himself the acting National Chairman after Ralph Nwosu’s resignation. Bala insisted that party rules were being ignored and challenged the legitimacy of the new leadership, stating that Mark and others were not bona fide party members. The leadership dispute soon escalated to the courts and media, leaving the party divided and uncertain.
Despite the internal dissent, the Mark-led faction maintained public confidence and continued coalition talks, urging dissidents to allow the legal process to take its course. The controversy deepened when a resignation letter surfaced, allegedly signed by Bala, in which he stepped down to “make way for coalition and restructuring.” This apparent contradiction cast doubt on Bala’s current claims and complicated his position within the party.
The situation reached a turning point when INEC updated its official records to reflect Mark and Aregbesola as the recognised leaders of the ADC. Though procedural in nature, the recognition was seen as a major political victory. However, it did not go unchallenged. Dumebi Kachikwu, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate and vocal critic of the coalition, condemned INEC’s action, citing ongoing court cases and accusing the commission of interfering with judicial proceedings.
With the legal battles far from over and internal divisions still sharp, the road ahead for the ADC remains uncertain. The challenge for the Mark-Aregbesola leadership will be not only to survive court scrutiny but also to convince Nigerians that the ADC can rise above its internal discord and become a credible political force ahead of the 2027 general elections.
