The Federal Capital Territory chapter of the African Democratic Congress has declared its support for the Senator David Mark-led National Working Committee, rejecting recent opposition from some state chairmen. In a statement signed on Wednesday by Nwigbo Samuel, the FCT Publicity Secretary, the chapter urged party members to resolve internal disputes through internal mechanisms rather than court litigation. "The FCT chapter of ADC stands solidly behind the Senator David Mark-led NWC and calls on others to do the same in the interest of peace and collective progress," the statement read. It warned that court cases create openings for opposition forces to exploit. The FCT leadership also appealed for unity, promoting sportsmanship and inclusivity within the party. "Surely, ADC will succeed and unseat this devilish government that has brought our country to ruin," the statement added. This endorsement comes as INEC recently withdrew recognition of the Mark-led leadership following a court order to maintain the status quo in a legal challenge over the party's leadership. INEC removed David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its portal and declined to recognise Nafiu Bala as national chairman. The FCT chapter stressed that ADC must focus on the collective interest of Nigerians and strengthen ahead of general elections. Its statement followed the #OccupyINEC protest in Abuja, where prominent opposition figures including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso demonstrated against INEC's actions.
Senator David Mark's continued backing by the ADC's FCT chapter reveals more than loyalty—it underscores the deep fragmentation now defining the party's national structure. While Mark retains influence in certain pockets like the FCT, INEC's removal of his name from its portal following a court directive signals that legal and institutional legitimacy is slipping away. The fact that Nafiu Bala's bid for national chairmanship prompted a judicial intervention—and INEC's subsequent refusal to recognise him—shows that no faction currently holds undisputed authority, leaving the party in a state of suspended governance.
The protest tagged #OccupyINEC, drawing figures like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, was not just about ADC's internal crisis but reflects broader unease among opposition actors over INEC's handling of party leadership disputes. The presence of high-profile politicians suggests that ADC's turmoil is being watched as a proxy for how electoral institutions manage intra-party democracy. When a party's leadership is disputed and regulatory responses appear inconsistent, it erodes public trust in the entire electoral process, especially ahead of general elections.
Ordinary ADC members and supporters in the FCT and beyond now face uncertainty about whose leadership to follow, which could dilute voter mobilisation and campaign cohesion. Party delegates preparing for primaries may find themselves caught between competing directives, risking disqualification of candidates or internal defections. This disarray benefits larger, more stable parties that can present unified fronts.
The ADC's current impasse fits a recurring Nigerian political pattern: parties forming around personalities rather than structures, then fracturing when power shifts. Without institutional mechanisms to manage succession and conflict, such crises will keep emerging—less as exceptions than as inevitabilities.
