THE African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised serious concerns over what it described as a calculated attempt to impose a one-party state in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of allegedly using the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to weaken opposition parties.
News Point Nigeria reports that addressing journalists on Thursday at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, the ADC National Chairman, David Mark, strongly criticised INEC’s recent actions, describing them as partisan and dangerous for Nigeria’s democracy.
Mark also called for the immediate removal of the INEC Chairman, Amupitan Joash, alleging bias and misconduct in handling the party’s internal leadership crisis.
The development follows INEC’s announcement on Wednesday that it had delisted key figures of the ADC leadership, including Mark himself and the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola.
INEC, through its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, explained that the action was in compliance with a court order directing the commission to maintain the “status quo” pending the resolution of an ongoing legal dispute.
However, the ADC leadership has rejected this interpretation, insisting that INEC misapplied the court directive and acted outside its constitutional powers.
The crisis within the ADC dates back to 2025, following the emergence of a new National Working Committee led by Mark after a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on July 29, 2025.
The dispute arose over the tenure of former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu, whose term had officially expired in August 2022 but who remained influential in the party’s transition process.
Internal disagreements led to factional claims over leadership, multiple court cases, and growing uncertainty about the party’s structure ahead of the 2027 elections.
Mark explained that INEC officials monitored the NEC meeting that produced the current leadership and were duly notified of the changes, which were later reflected on the commission’s website.
Reacting to INEC’s latest move, Mark accused the electoral body of deliberately distorting the court’s directive to destabilise the ADC.
According to him, the concept of “status quo ante bellum” cited by INEC had been wrongly interpreted.
“There is no legal precedent that supports INEC’s position,” Mark said, arguing that the commission should have sought clarification from the court if it was genuinely uncertain.
Instead, he alleged, INEC’s actions revealed a clear bias and alignment with a broader political agenda.
Mark warned that such actions could erode public confidence in the electoral process and undermine democratic principles.
The former Senate President went further to allege that the ultimate goal of the alleged interference was to weaken opposition parties and create a scenario where Bola Ahmed Tinubu would emerge as the only viable candidate in the 2027 elections.
“The agenda is very clear,” Mark said. “To create a situation where, by 2027, the President becomes the only option left for Nigerians, despite widespread hardship and insecurity.”
He argued that worsening economic conditions and insecurity had heightened public dissatisfaction, which, according to him, could threaten the ruling party’s electoral prospects.
Mark described INEC’s conduct as a direct attack on democracy and citizens’ rights, insisting that the commission had become “irredeemably partisan.”
He demanded the immediate resignation or sack of the INEC Chairman and all national commissioners, declaring that the ADC had lost confidence in their ability to conduct credible elections.
“We are convinced they are incapable of conducting any credible election,” he stated.
The ADC warned that INEC’s actions could negatively affect its participation in upcoming elections, including governorship polls in Osun and Ekiti states later this year.
Mark also expressed concern over the party’s planned congresses scheduled to begin on April 9, 2026, and its national convention set for April 14, 2026, noting that INEC had already been notified.
He stressed that there was no legal requirement for INEC’s physical presence for the party to proceed with its activities.
Despite the ongoing crisis, Mark reaffirmed the ADC’s commitment to democratic principles, vowing that the party would continue its activities and resist any attempt to undermine its structure.
“Our democracy must be protected,” he said. “We will not allow any institution to subvert the will of the people.”