David Mark, national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has demanded the resignation of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman Joash Amupitan. This follows INEC's decision to derecognise Mark's leadership of the ADC. The electoral body recognised Ambassador Rufai Hanga as the party's legitimate leader after a factional dispute. Mark rejected the decision, calling it unjust and politically influenced. He made the demand during an ADC leaders' conference held Thursday at the Musa Yar'adua Centre in Abuja. "INEC under Amupitan has lost the moral authority to conduct free and fair elections," Mark said. The ADC leadership crisis stems from conflicting claims over the party's national convention held in 2023. INEC's recognition of Hanga has effectively sidelined Mark and his allies. The commission stated its decision was based on compliance with party statutes and due process.
David Mark's ousting as ADC leader by INEC exposes the fragility of internal party democracy when arbiters like Amupitan hold final sway. His call for resignation may resonate with aggrieved politicians but does little to challenge INEC's institutional power. For Nigerian voters, the real concern is how such disputes distort party identity before elections. When regulatory decisions appear aligned with political currents, public trust erodes quietly.
