The African Democratic Congress (ADC) under the leadership of Senator David Mark has officially challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) interpretation of a recent Court of Appeal decision regarding the party’s leadership crisis.
In a statement released Wednesday night, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, accused the electoral commission of succumbing to external political influence.
Abdullahi suggested that INEC’s recent actions were dictated by a government intimidated by the ADC’s growing profile, despite what he termed a coordinated effort to dismantle opposition and enforce a one-party state.
“We reject INEC’s interpretation of the Court of Appeal ruling. We knew that INEC was being pressured by a government that has become jittery from the ADC’s rising momentum, even in the face of its relentless assault on all opposition parties,” the statement declared.
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Abdullahi further criticized the commission’s official stance as being riddled with inconsistencies.
“INEC’s press statement is full of contradictions that fly in the face of both facts and reason. We shall clarify these contradictions for all to see. What is clear, however, is that INEC has caved to pressure and has chosen to side with the government against the Nigerian people,” he remarked.
The party spokesman noted that the ADC is currently evaluating its legal and political options and will announce its next moves shortly. He encouraged members to stay focused, adding, “Nigeria is rising, ADC is rising.”
This reaction follows INEC’s announcement earlier on Wednesday that it would no longer recognize or accept communications from either the David Mark faction or the Rafiu Bala faction.
Citing a March 12 Court of Appeal judgment, INEC’s Chairman of Information and Voter Education, Mohammed Kudu, stated that the commission would suspend all engagements—including the monitoring of congresses or conventions—until the Federal High Court delivers a final ruling.
As part of this “status quo” enforcement, INEC also confirmed it would delete David Mark’s name from its official portal.
The legal battle began when Rafiu Bala, the former vice chairman, sued to stop the Mark-led caretaker committee from taking control of the party’s National Working Committee.
