The African Democratic Congress (ADC) party has seen a rift in its ranks, with several state chapters distancing themselves from a fresh suit filed against the party's National Working Committee (NWC) led by Senator David Mark. The Rivers, Lagos, Imo, and Zamfara state chapters have all denied involvement in the suit, describing it as unauthorised.
The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenges Mark's leadership and alleges constitutional breaches regarding the appointment of committees for the April 2026 primaries. The plaintiffs are seeking an injunction to halt the primaries, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) joined in the suit.
Leaders from the affected state chapters have issued statements clarifying their positions. James Okoroma, Imo state chairman, stated that neither the state executive nor its leadership is a party to the case. Leader Samson, Rivers state chairman, reaffirmed his chapter's loyalty to the national leadership and internal dispute resolution mechanisms. Kabiru Garba Gusau, Zamfara state chairman, and George Ashiru, Lagos state chairman, also backed the Mark-led leadership.
The state chapters have warned against litigation that could create confusion and cautioned members against presenting personal grievances as official party positions.
The recent suit against Senator David Mark's leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) party's National Working Committee (NWC) highlights the need for clear communication and representation within political parties. The fact that several state chapters have distanced themselves from the suit suggests a lack of consultation and coordination within the party. This could have serious implications for the party's internal democracy and unity. The ADC should take concrete steps to address these issues and ensure that its members are properly informed and consulted on key decisions. The party's leadership must also take responsibility for preventing such suits in the future.
