The David Mark-led group in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is now desperately seeking an alternative platform for its members to contest next year’s elections following the recent decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw recognition of the two factions laying claim to the party’s leadership.
The Nation gathered that the group is not prepared to take any risk that may jeopardise its chances in the elections after INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan warned on Friday that violating a court order would not be in the interest of the party ahead of the polls.
The INEC’s decision was on account of an order of the Court of Appeal that the status quo ante bellum be maintained in the party’s leadership tussle.
The group in its initial response to the INEC decision had vowed to proceed with its congresses and national convention later this month.
However, Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), warned that should the party carry out its threat, it should expect to meet with the same fate that befell the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State in the past.
Sources said the David Mark group came to the conclusion that given the time constraint imposed by the revised timetable for the 2027 elections, it would be extremely difficult for the ADC to sort out the current legal cases it is involved in before the May 31, 2026 deadline for the parties to conduct their primaries.
It was gathered that soon after the INEC’s announcement last week, the leadership of the group launched into a series of meetings and consultations with its lawyers to consider the options open to it.
It was gathered that although the group agreed in principle to continue with the appeal filed by it, that option was considered insufficient as there is no guarantee that the case could be disposed off soon or even turn out in its favour.
Its attention was also drawn to the fact that apart from the case between Nafiu Bala Gombe and David Mark, there are at least two other cases on the ADC leadership tussle: Dubem Kachukwu & 4 Ors v. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) & 5 Ors. and Adeyemi Emmanuel & 2 Ors v . ADC, INEC, David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, Bolaji Abdullahi and Ors.877787⁷
Some of the participants, according to sources, proposkkkied that the group should consider one or two existing parties that are free of the kind of baggage they found in ADC.
No conclusion has been reached yet on this as further meetings have been scheduled for this week.
One source familiar with the development described the political option as irresistible.
“As it stands today, we cannot communicate with INEC because we are not recognised,” the source said.
“Time is not on our side and the most sensible thing for us to do in the circumstance is to move fast and adopt a platform that will not give us the kind of problem we ran into in ADC.
The source said adopting a new platform would pacify members who have been anxiously praying for a quick resolution of the ongoing face-off between the two factions of the party; a development they see as a huge threat to those seeking to contest the 2027 elections.
Party sources in the states said the uncertainty in the party has thrown members, particularly aspirants, into confusion with the deadline for the conduct of primaries, including resolution of disputes arising from them, around the corner.
The revised timetable sets April 23, 2026 for the commencement of party primaries and May 30, 2026 for their conclusion.
The party’s Public Relations Officer in Oyo State, Bimbo Adelowo, admitted that the present uncertainty has indeed created confusion for the party.
But he blamed INEC for allegedly interpreting court rulings to suit its own agenda.
He said INEC would do better to seek interpretation from the court on the ruling of the Court of Appeal instead of assuming the role of an interpreter.
Read also:
‘Why Coalition Party, ADA Cannot Be Registered’ – INEC Chairman
INEC Defends Decision to Derecognize David Mark-led ADC Faction
2027: ADC Top Hierarchy Under Pressure for Alternative Platform
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