The National Executive Committee (NEC) Chairmen Forum of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has threatened to embark on a nationwide protest against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over its handling of the party’s leadership crisis.
The forum issued the warning on Friday, demanding that INEC immediately implement the Federal High Court judgement which removed former Senate President David Mark and members of his interim National Working Committee (NWC) from the party’s leadership.
It also asked the electoral commission to replace their names on its official portal with those of Nafiu Bala Gombe and other officials recognised by the forum as the party’s legitimate leaders.
Additionally, the group urged INEC to reopen its portal to enable the ADC to conduct fresh primaries where necessary and upload candidates for the 2027 general elections.
The forum’s Secretary, Kennedy Odion, made the demands while addressing journalists in Abuja, reacting to the judgement delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court.
Odion maintained that the ruling had vindicated the forum’s position that the Mark-led interim leadership was not constituted in accordance with the ADC constitution.
He insisted that the forum, which he described as the only legally recognised NEC members, had accepted the judgement and recognised Bala Gombe as the authentic national chairman of the party.
“We, the only legally recognised NEC members, accept in its entirety the judgment declaring our own Alhaji Nafiu Bala Gombe the authentic national chairman of the ADC,” Odion said.
He warned that the forum would mobilise members across the country for protests if INEC failed to comply with the court’s directive.
“Failure to comply with this latest judgment will leave us no option but to proceed with our planned nationwide protest against the electoral umpire. Nigeria is for all of us. No individual, however highly placed, is above the law,” he added.
Odion further argued that the judgement had invalidated decisions taken by the dissolved interim NWC, including the nomination of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the ADC’s presidential candidate and the emergence of other candidates through its congresses and national convention.
He consequently questioned the legitimacy of candidates produced under the Mark-led leadership, including former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who was selected as Atiku’s running mate.
The ADC has been embroiled in a prolonged leadership dispute between the Mark-led interim NWC and a faction loyal to Bala Gombe, resulting in multiple court cases over the party’s leadership structure and internal electoral processes.
The latest development follows an earlier judgement delivered by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on April 29, 2026, in a suit involving ADC state chairmen led by Don-Norman Obinna.
The court had affirmed that the tenure of elected state executive committees remained valid until fresh congresses and a national convention were conducted in accordance with the party’s constitution.
It also restrained INEC from recognising congresses organised by the interim NWC. The Court of Appeal subsequently upheld the decision on June 13, 2026.
However, Odion accused INEC of continuing to recognise the Mark-led leadership and accepting candidates produced through its congresses and convention despite the earlier court decisions.
He said the forum had pursued legal channels to challenge the commission’s actions rather than allow the disagreement to trigger violence among party members.
“The maturity shown by the NEC Chairmen Forum as law-abiding members of society prevented a melee and saved the lives of agitated and disenchanted party members and candidates,” he stated.
The forum’s secretary also commended the judiciary for what he described as its courage in delivering justice, despite alleged attempts by the dissolved interim leadership to discredit the courts.
While awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision on the earlier dispute, Odion reaffirmed the forum’s support for Bala Gombe, expressing optimism that his leadership would restore stability to the ADC.
He also congratulated Gombe and other party members, declaring that sanity had returned to the opposition party.
