The All Progressives Congress (APC) has backed the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC’s) decision to withdraw recognition of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leadership, describing the faction led by former Senate President David Mark as having “hijacked” the party.
Speaking on News Central TV on Thursday, April 2, 2026, APC national publicity secretary Felix Morka dismissed allegations that the ruling party influenced the decision.
He said the crisis within the ADC was self-inflicted, attributing it to internal violations of the party’s constitution and insisting the APC had no role in INEC’s action.
INEC announced on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, that it would no longer accept correspondence from either of the rival ADC factions, the group aligned with Mark or the camp led by Nafiu Bala Gombe, following its review of the March 12, 2026 Court of Appeal judgment on the party’s leadership dispute.
The commission said it would also refrain from monitoring or recognizing meetings, congresses, and conventions of both factions pending a final ruling by the Federal High Court.
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It subsequently removed the names of Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its official portal, citing the appellate court’s directive to maintain the status quo.
The Mark-aligned ADC rejected the move, with its national publicity secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, accusing INEC of acting under political pressure and attempting to weaken opposition parties.
He described the commission’s interpretation of the court ruling as inconsistent.
The leadership tussle dates back to late 2025 when Gombe, then vice national chairman, challenged Mark’s emergence as party leader following the resignation of the former national chairman.
Gombe approached the Federal High Court seeking recognition, while Mark’s appeal against an interlocutory order was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on March 12, 2026, a decision that prompted INEC’s current stance.
INEC’s position effectively suspends formal recognition of leadership in the ADC ahead of the 2027 general elections, raising concerns over the party’s organizational stability as preparations for the polls intensify.