The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has affirmed the legal standing of the David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a decision immediately mocked by the All Progressives Congress (APC). The ruling clears the path for the Mark faction to proceed with organising the party's primary elections ahead of the statutory deadline next month. In a statement, APC spokespersons described the ADC's internal struggle as a sign of deeper systemic disarray, saying the opposition coalition cannot challenge the ruling party while failing to unify itself. INEC's decision validates the faction led by former Senate President David Mark over a rival group claiming control of the party's structures. The commission determined that the Mark-led NWC remains the officially recognised leadership per its records and guidelines governing political party operations.
David Mark's team has scheduled the ADC presidential primary for mid-October, aiming to meet INEC's timeline for candidate nominations. A spokesperson for the rival ADC faction rejected the ruling, calling it politically influenced, but provided no legal basis for the claim. Party delegates aligned with Mark are expected to convene in Abuja for the primary, which will determine the ADC's flagbearer for the 2027 general elections. The APC dismissed the controversy as self-inflicted, with one party official stating, "They want to contest an election, but they can't conduct one among themselves." The electoral commission has urged all parties to finalise their internal processes within the stipulated timeframe to avoid disruptions in the electoral calendar. Legal challenges to INEC's decision are still possible, though none has been filed as of this report.
When the APC mocks the ADC over INEC's validation of David Mark's NWC, it exposes more than rivalry—it reveals how deeply factionalism undermines opposition credibility. The ruling didn't just settle a procedural dispute; it highlighted that the ADC's leadership crisis is now a matter of public record, not just internal wrangling. For voters seeking a viable alternative to the ruling party, the spectacle of an opposition coalition struggling to hold a primary is more damaging than any APC jibe. Until that changes, electoral relevance will remain out of reach.
