The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has challenged the interpretation of the status quo order by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Mahmood Yakubu. The party insists that INEC misunderstood its own directive regarding the recognition of national officers, stating that the order does not freeze internal party leadership. ADC National Secretary Ima Niboro said the court's status quo order, issued on May 23, 2024, was meant to preserve the existing administrative structure pending resolution of the party's leadership dispute, not to validate Yakubu's recognition of a rival faction. According to ADC, the commission overstepped by officially recognizing Bello Mohammed as the party's national chairman, a move the party argues lacks legal backing. The disagreement stems from a leadership crisis within ADC following the March 2024 national convention, where Niyi Adebayo was elected chairman. INEC's recognition of Mohammed instead has sparked legal and political tensions. ADC has vowed to pursue the matter in court to affirm the legitimacy of its elected officials.
INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu's decision to recognize a minority faction within ADC exposes the commission's growing tendency to insert itself into internal party conflicts. The May 23 status quo order was never meant to legitimize one side, yet Yakubu's action gives the impression of endorsement. This sets a troubling precedent for how INEC handles disputes in other parties ahead of the 2027 elections. Nigerian political actors may now see INEC not as a neutral arbiter, but as a body willing to make consequential calls without clear judicial backing.
