The leadership tussle in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) remains unresolved as a court case filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe is still pending, according to INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan. Speaking in a Friday interview on Arise Television, Amupitan stated that the commission cannot intervene because the matter is before an Abuja Federal High Court. The suit stems from conflicting claims over Bala's resignation, with INEC citing a letter from the ADC stating he had stepped down, while Bala insists his signature was forged and he never resigned. As Deputy National Vice Chairman, Bala's legal team argues he automatically became national chairman following the resignation of other Executive Council members.
Amupitan explained that INEC reverted to the status quo ante, referencing Supreme Court interpretation as the state of affairs before conflict arose. He traced the origin of the crisis to a July 29, 2025, meeting where the David Mark faction was ratified. Bala filed an ex-parte motion on September 2, 2025, seeking injunction, followed by another on December 15, 2025, restraining INEC and the Mark faction from acting as party leaders.
INEC's reliance on a court ruling to resolve the ADC crisis reveals how deeply judicial processes now shape party politics. Prof. Joash Amupitan's detailed recounting of dates and motions shows INEC is avoiding unilateral decisions, even when party documents conflict. This means Nigerian voters may have to wait months before clarity on which ADC faction is legitimate. The delay undermines the commission's ability to enforce internal party democracy swiftly.
