The Northern Consultative Youth Council (NCYC) has urged the feuding factions of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to stop involving the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in their leadership dispute. This follows INEC's decision to cease accepting communications from either the David Mark-led or Rafiu Bala-led faction after reviewing a March 12 Court of Appeal judgment. In a statement issued Thursday by Mallam Ashiru Abu, the NCYC said the move underscores the depth of the ADC's internal crisis and warned that politicizing INEC's actions threatens public trust in democratic institutions. The council dismissed claims by ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi that INEC acted under pressure, calling them unfounded. It emphasized that INEC operates within its constitutional role and should not be drawn into intra-party conflicts. The NCYC called on ADC stakeholders to pursue reconciliation through dialogue and due process. The group stressed that Nigeria's democracy depends on political actors respecting institutional boundaries and acting responsibly.
Bolaji Abdullahi's claim that INEC bowed to pressure plays into a familiar pattern of blaming institutions for self-inflicted party failures. When party leaders like those in the ADC turn to public accusations instead of internal resolution, it signals weak governance from the outset. This episode does little to inspire confidence in the ADC as a credible alternative in Nigeria's political landscape. For voters seeking functional leadership, the party's disarray offers more proof than promise.
