The decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to de-recognise key leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has caused a stir within the party’s ranks.
Recall that the electoral body, through its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, announced that the names of David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola had been removed from its official portal as national chairman and national secretary of the party.
INEC said the decision was based on a court order directing it to maintain the status quo pending the resolution of a legal challenge questioning the legitimacy of the current ADC leadership.
However, the move has triggered sharp reactions from opposition figures and political groups, who view it as a potential threat to democratic stability.
Spokesman of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, alongside Ini Ememobong of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), condemned the action, describing it as a calculated attempt to weaken opposition structures. Both accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of influencing the development, an allegation yet to receive an official response.
National Coordinator of the group, Yunusa Tanko, described INEC’s action as “a recipe for crisis,” cautioning that perceived partisanship by the electoral body could have far-reaching consequences.
At the heart of the dispute is a legal battle over the leadership of the ADC, with the court’s directive to maintain the status quo now subject to differing interpretations by stakeholders.
