The U.S. chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on INEC and the judiciary to resolve ongoing legal and administrative issues affecting the party ahead of the 2027 general elections. Dr Safiyanu Saidu (Maibiyar), chairman of ADC's U.S. chapter, made the appeal in a statement issued on Monday. He expressed concern over the removal of Sen. David Mark and Mr Rauf Aregbesola from INEC's portal on April 1, describing it as a deletion, not a suspension, and said it had created confusion within the party. Saidu linked the development to a pending suit by Mr Nafiu Bala at the Federal High Court and urged swift resolution. He quoted the adage, "Justice delayed is democracy denied," and called on INEC to reverse the action and the judiciary to act promptly. Saidu described the ADC as "a credible alternative" in Nigeria's political landscape and said the party was strengthening its platform for 2027. He emphasized the role of Nigerians in the diaspora, noting their economic contributions through remittances. "We are not outsiders. We sustain the economy and will not be silent," he said. He also stressed the importance of public confidence in democratic institutions, particularly judicial neutrality, and said the party was mobilizing citizens to defend democracy through lawful means. "If opposition is silenced, democracy becomes a coronation, not a contest," he added.
Dr Safiyanu Saidu's intervention reveals a growing unease within the ADC's diaspora wing over the party's domestic instability, spotlighting how internal legal battles and INEC's administrative actions are undermining its cohesion. The deletion of Sen. David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from INEC's portal on April 1 is not a minor clerical issue—it strikes at the heart of the party's recognized leadership, creating institutional uncertainty months before campaign activities for 2027 are expected to intensify.
This episode reflects a broader pattern in Nigerian politics where electoral bodies' technical decisions intersect with unresolved intra-party disputes, often to the detriment of weaker parties. With Nafiu Bala's suit still pending, the ADC's legitimacy is being contested in court while its public image fractures. Saidu's emphasis on diaspora remittances is not just symbolic; it underscores a growing expectation that financial contributors to Nigeria's economy will demand greater influence over its governance and political integrity.
Ordinary ADC members and supporters now face a crisis of confidence, unsure of who legitimately leads their party or whether it will even appear on the ballot in 2027. For Nigerians seeking credible alternatives to the APC and PDP, the ADC's turmoil offers little reassurance. The situation fits a wider trend: opposition parties in Nigeria are often weakened more by internal disarray and regulatory hurdles than by electoral competition itself.
