A fresh leadership crisis has hit the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) refused to recognise the party’s newly constituted caretaker committee, while state chairmen denounced the David Mark-led group as an illegitimate coalition attempting to hijack the party through unconstitutional and undemocratic means.
Despite official affirmation by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the African Democratic Congress of a new leadership structure, the Independent National Electoral Commission has maintained that the party’s old national executive committee remains in place, casting doubt on its recognition of the David Mark-led caretaker committee.
INEC has yet to upload Senator David Mark and his interim team to its official portal, signalling non-recognition of the leadership change.A visit to INEC’s portal by The Guardian shows that the ADC’s national officers are still listed as: Ralph Okey Nwosu (National Chairman), Said Baba Abdullahi (National Secretary), Mr Cavin Alagoa (National Treasurer), Mrs Ifeyimwa Ntima (National Financial Secretary), and Ujunwa L. Onwuasoeze (National Legal Adviser).
The portal also still lists the ADC National Secretariat at “No 1 Capital Plaza Nyanyan-Kuru Road, Abuja” with the contact number 08059969415. This is despite the party’s unveiling of a new interim leadership in Abuja in July 2025 following the resignation of Ralph Okey Nwosu and members of his executive committee.
The ADC had announced a caretaker committee led by former Senate President David Mark as Chairman, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, and Bolaji Abdullahi as Interim National Publicity Secretary.
In response to an inquiry by The Guardian on the leadership status of the ADC, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Lawrence, stated simply: “The old exco is still in charge as of today (yesterday).”
