Nigeria’s African Democratic Congress is split between Senator David Mark’s faction and rival Nafiu Bala Gombe, who sued to block Mark’s leadership after founder Ralph Nwosu resigned as the party throw accusations at president Tinubu of wanting to manipulate INEC to ‘push A One-Party System In Nigeria.’
INEC initially recognized Mark’s team via a September 12, 2025 affidavit but delisted both sides last week following a Court of Appeal ruling to restore the pre-July NEC meeting status quo.
Nafiu Bala, factional national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has confirmed his attendance of the party’s unveiling of the interim leadership led by David Mark in July 2025.
In a statement on Tuesday, Bala confirmed his attendance, but insisted that there was no prior agreement to appoint the Mark-led leadership at the meeting.
He said the meeting which held on July 2, 2025, was convened specifically for the adoption of ADC as a unified platform for coalition partners, not to unveil new party leaders.
In an interview on News Central TV, the party spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi said: “This president is destroying all political parties, so he will be the sole candidate, and INEC is an accomplice. INEC is behaving like a criminal organization,” calling it institutional sabotage, warning ADC could miss 2027 primaries without recognized leaders to sign nominations.
In a statement released on X the ADC called out to Nigerians to save democracy stating: “DC has released INEC’s affidavit dated 12 September 2025 that affirmed David Mark led NWC
Please pay particular attention to Clauses 14 to 19, which affirm
Pointing out “that the leadership transition had already been completed and recognized by INEC, and that such internal party matters fall outside the scope of judicial interference.
“It is now crystal clear that Tinubu’s APC and the embattled INEC Chairman, Prof. Amupitan, are using INEC to push a one-party system in Nigeria.
“This development raises grave concerns about the independence, neutrality, and credibility of the electoral process in Nigeria. When an institution constitutionally expected to act as an impartial umpire is seen to be taking sides in internal party affairs, it strikes at the very foundation of democratic fairness and public trust.
“No democracy can survive where state institutions are turned into political weapons against opposition parties. What is happening before our eyes is not just an attack on ADC, but a dangerous attempt to weaken multiparty democracy and silence alternative political voices in Nigeria. Every patriotic citizen must understand the seriousness of this moment.
“We call on all Nigerians to rise to the occasion and save our democracy.