₦airaland Forum

A fresh leadership tussle has erupted in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declined to recognise the party’s newly formed caretaker committee led by former Senate President, David Mark.
Despite a resolution by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to dissolve the existing National Working Committee and install an interim leadership, INEC has maintained that the party’s old executive remains in charge.

Checks on INEC’s official portal by The Guardian on Tuesday revealed that Ralph Okey Nwosu is still listed as the ADC’s National Chairman, alongside Said Baba Abdullahi (National Secretary), Cavin Alagoa (National Treasurer), Ifeyimwa Ntima (National Financial Secretary), and Ujunwa L. Onwuasoeze (National Legal Adviser).

The ADC’s national secretariat is also retained at “No 1 Capital Plaza, Nyanyan-Kuru Road, Abuja” with its official contact number.

The leadership crisis deepened in July 2025 when the ADC announced a caretaker committee following the resignation of Nwosu and his executive members. Those named in the interim leadership are:

David Mark – Caretaker Chairman

Rauf Aregbesola – National Secretary

Bolaji Abdullahi – Interim National Publicity Secretary

The structure also appointed six Deputy National Chairmen from across the geopolitical zones.

At the party’s 99th NEC meeting, which INEC officials reportedly attended, two motions were adopted: one reinstating suspended members (except Ibe Kachikwu), and another dissolving the old NWC to pave the way for Mark’s caretaker team.

Following the NEC meeting, the David Mark-led committee met with all 37 state chairmen, including the Federal Capital Territory, in Abuja to consolidate support for the new leadership and reaffirm the party’s unity.

The meeting also outlined plans to strengthen coalition-building efforts and reorganise party structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.

However, INEC has yet to update its records to reflect the leadership change. Responding to inquiries by The Guardian, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Lawrence, stated, “The old exco is still in charge as of today (yesterday).”

https://www./2025/08/06/inec-declines-recognition-of-adcs-david-mark-led-committee/

Is INEC under tinubu now a political party?

Tinubu should be careful with the desperate politics that he's playing because the people in that ADC from the northern bloc are not people to toy with.

If Tinubu does not want peaceful change then he may advertently be calling for violent change.If he is scared of election then he should step aside.

The ADC has come to stay and will surely contest the next election.

LagosOrigin:
Is INEC under tinubu now a political party?

Tinubu should be careful with the desperate politics that he's playing because the people in that ADC from the northern bloc are not people to toy with.

The North will explode if he tries anything funny with ADC. We are waiting to see how exactly the SW votes will re-elecg him.

It does not have to lead to bloodshed

Wondering why some politicians keep on repeating the same mistake over and over again and expecting different results

If as a political leader, you are adopting a new party from the one you are known with, you see the leadership structure of the party, you need to consider those who have been there with the party, not just put them aside and put your own people there. You carry them along and let them hold one or 2 positions.

External issue in politics can still be handled, but you see internal, some wouldn't mind to scatter everything

See gullible people commenting and blaming TINUBU for everything.
Like I said before; ADC is the Wahala Pro Max of PDP and LP combined.
Na season film wey go end in 2027. This is just Episode 1. Just seat back and enjoy the movie.
No Be Juju Be Dat?

immaculatesense:
See gullible people commenting and blaming TINUBU for everything.
Like I said before; ADC is the Wahala Pro Max of PDP and LP combined.
Na season film wey go end in 2027. This is just Episode 1. Just seat back and enjoy the movie.
No Be Juju Be Dat?

Don't worry when it starts you will understand. Tinubu is toying with violence

helinues:
Wondering why some politicians keep on repeating the same mistake over and over again and expecting different results

If as a political leader, you are adopting a new party from the one you are known with, you see the leadership structure of the party, you need to consider those who have been there with the party, not just put them aside and put your own people there. You carry them along and let them hold one or 2 positions.

External issue in politics can still be handled, but you see internal, some wouldn't mind to scatter everything

Oga it is either elections are held or violence will ensue.It is better we have elections.

We cannot afford to have sectarian violence or civil war in Nigeria. Tinubu is playing with fire. This one nobi Rivers state.

The INEC is trying to play safe.
ADC is planning a mini-convention, nothing is amiss.

Whilst INEC recognises David Mark, they need a mini-Convention for ratification. INEC is on course.

PaChukwudi44:
Oga it is either elections are held or violence will ensue.It is better we have elections.

We cannot afford to have sectarian violence or civil war in Nigeria. Tinubu is playing with fire. This one nobi Rivers state.

Please make it sensible to me how war or violence will ensure should elections not held correlate with my comments or this thread itself

TimeMachine2:
So Tinubu is now INEC? Instead of to be concerned about the impostors hijacking ADC you are here chatting what? Se ode ni e, sir?

Bro, they are just reacting to issue with emotions without any logic.

Imagine my comments, imagine his quoting reply..

They take politics matter personal as if they are making a dime from it

fergie001:
The INEC is trying to play safe.
ADC is planning a mini-convention, nothing is amiss.

Whilst INEC recognises David Mark, they need a mini-Convention for ratification. INEC is on course.

are u sure about this because the INEC have proven to be biased so far

PaChukwudi44:
Don't worry when it starts you will understand. Tinubu is toying with violence

Your people said more than this in 2023; heaven did not fall then so it will not fall now.
Tinubu will win. You will go to court. You will wait for four years. That is the cycle. Heaven will not fall.
No Be Juju Be Dat?

danijesus:
are u sure about this because the INEC have proven to be biased so far

When PDP shifted leadership from Modu Sheriff to caretaker through Ahmed Markarfi, there was a mini-Convention for that.
ADC needs a mini-Convention because there are now factions.
You see some State Chairmen saying David Mark isn't the leader so INEC was present at the handover so they now need it formally.

The Convention authenticates that and I understand they have advised ADC accordingly. Again, when Okey Nwosu was to run another term and he was having issues with some State Chairmen and the BoT Chair, Akwashiki in 2022, INEC advised him accordingly. It was that Convention that aided Nwosu to win the case in Court in September 2023.

So a Convention clears every doubts whatsoever. Again, you should understand we are talking about an opposition party, it is more simpler with a ruling Party that has a definite leader (President). Exclusively, I understand the ADC will be holding a mini-Convention ending of next month or thereabouts, that's when the ritual of formal handover will take place. I believe this is INEC's position for NOW.

fergie001:
When PDP shifted leadership from Modu Sheriff to caretaker through Ahmed Markarfi, there was a mini-Convention for that.
ADC needs a mini-Convention because there are now factions.
You see some State Chairmen saying David Mark isn't the leader so INEC was present at the handover so they now need it formally.

The Convention authenticates that and I understand they have advised ADC accordingly. Again, when Okey Nwosu was to run another term and he was having issues with some State Chairmen and the BoT Chair, Akwashiki in 2022, INEC advised him accordingly. It was that Convention that aided Nwosu to win the case in Court in September 2023.

So a Convention clears every doubts whatsoever. Again, you should understand we are talking about an opposition party, it is more simpler with a ruling Party that has a definite leader (President). Exclusively, I understand the ADC will be holding a mini-Convention ending of next month or thereabouts, that's when the ritual of formal handover will take place. I believe this is INEC's position for NOW.

Thank yu, Tinubu is struggling to keep opposition from having a platform to contest. Unfortunately, he has failed. All I see is the last kick of a dieing horse.

Opposition parties will do anyhow and then blame the president, APC or INEC.

All these opposition members are ExPDP. It is the same mentality they used in destroying PDP they have taken to their new parties. Everywhere they go they bring problems because they go wi to the same PDP impunity mindset.

I have said it many times the problem with PDP is that they were never a Democratic Party. They were the civilian party of the military for the purpose of transition too civilian rule and governed with that mindset. It worked while they were in power.

Obasanjo, IBB, Atiku, Bode George, Nyako, Alamieyeseigha, David Mark, Anenih, Oyinlola, Jonah Jang…..the list is endless. They were all ex uniformed people. People not used to operating democratically. All the opposition parties today having issues are PDP or ex PDP refugees.

ADC is a big joke! A very big joke.

PaChukwudi44:
The North will explode if he tries anything funny with ADC. We are waiting to see how exactly the SW votes will re-elecg him.

It does not have to lead to bloodshed

Is North now your Messiah?

I see Mahmud the INEC chairman as an extension of the APC rigging machinery.
That man is shameless and there is a reason Tinubu has left him there.
How some Nigerians think that they can upstage Tinubu with the same Mahmud who viciously rigged the last elections as the electoral umpire, beats me!
We need to be serious in this country for once.

For you to have any semblance of free and fair elections in Nigeria, Mahmud has to go, the electoral laws have to be rewritten to correct several entrenched lapses and the position of the electoral board chairman has to be appointed by an independent body and not the president.

Anything short of this is just counter productive

owobokiri:
I see Mahmud the INEC chairman as an extension of the APC rigging machinery.
That man is shameless and there is a reason Tinubu has left him there.
How some Nigerians think that they can upstage Tinubu with the same Mahmud who viciously rigged the last elections as the electoral umpire, beats me!
We need to be serious in this country for once.

For you to have any semblance of free and fair elections in Nigeria, Mahmud has to go, the electoral laws have to be rewritten to correct several entrenched lapses and the position of the electoral board chairman has to be appointed by an independent body and not the president.

Anything short of this is just counter productive

1. Yakubu's tenure ends in November this year.

2. I very well doubt the Constitution Review will be concluded because it will be deliberately delayed for good reasons.
One of the items there states that; the INEC Chair should be appointed from the Judiciary and not the President.

3. I believe INEC plus the Police are the singular components that bedevils our elections in Nigeria. To solve the INEC problem without the Police or Security, is like chewing bread without tea.

4. I will have thought that the first thing opposition parties like PDP, LP & NNPP should have done was to force some amendments in our Electoral laws. As it stands today, it is already too late and APC has a huge number in the NASS to almost singularly veto any bill.

Anything we try to do now, is already almost too late.

PaChukwudi44:
The North will explode if he tries anything funny with ADC. We are waiting to see how exactly the SW votes will re-elecg him.

It does not have to lead to bloodshed

lagosorigin ndigbo because this clowns called adc are exempted from the election, northern Nigeria will explode abi?

owobokiri:
I see Mahmud the INEC chairman as an extension of the APC rigging machinery.
That man is shameless and there is a reason Tinubu has left him there.
How some Nigerians think that they can upstage Tinubu with the same Mahmud who viciously rigged the last elections as the electoral umpire, beats me!
We need to be serious in this country for once.

For you to have any semblance of free and fair elections in Nigeria, Mahmud has to go, the electoral laws have to be rewritten to correct several entrenched lapses and the position of the electoral board chairman has to be appointed by an independent body and not the president.

Anything short of this is just counter productive

yes Tinubu should not extend the INEC’s chairman’s tenure, he should replace him with Joseph Igbokwe.

Mtcheew
Clickbait

This is total hijack of a nation.
Other nations of the world are dishing out policies to make their nation better but this set of people are setting it backwards.
That someone is Maradona of politics and he's scared to contest with anyone. The FCT minister is the one giving out such idea. This is total break down of constituted authority.

LagosOrigin:
Is INEC under tinubu now a political party?

Tinubu should be careful with the desperate politics that he's playing because the people in that ADC from the northern bloc are not people to toy with.

It's so funny when I see your people claiming Yorubas are northern this and that. We all know the region in the south, that fear and worship them

These are the things that causes military to take over a country.