For the second time in two days, members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Thursday staged a protest at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja over the lingering leadership crisis rocking the opposition party.
This latest demonstration was led by party members loyal to Nafiu Bala, who is also laying claim to the position of national chairman of the ADC.
The protesters, led by Bala alongside a member of the House of Representatives, Leke Abejide, called on the electoral commission to immediately recognise Bala as the authentic national chairman of the party.
The development further highlights the deepening leadership dispute within the ADC, which currently has at least three factions laying claim to its national leadership.
The groups include the faction led by former Senate President David Mark, the Bala-led faction, and another group loyal to the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu.
The fresh protest comes barely 24 hours after the Mark-led faction also stormed the INEC headquarters in Abuja, demanding recognition of its leadership.
Among those who joined Wednesday’s protest were former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi; former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi; former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola; former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal; and former senator Dino Melaye, among other prominent opposition figures.
The demonstrators carried placards with various inscriptions, including “Tinubu, let our democracy breathe,” as they accused INEC of allegedly working in collaboration with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to weaken opposition parties and undermine Nigeria’s democratic process.
The Mark-led faction also called for the resignation of INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, over what it described as the commission’s handling of the crisis.
The crisis within the ADC began after Bala, who previously served as the party’s national vice chairman, insisted that he should automatically assume the office of national chairman following the resignation of Ralph Nwosu.
Nwosu had stepped down after an opposition coalition adopted the ADC as its platform for the 2027 general elections.
Following his resignation, executives aligned with David Mark moved to take over the party’s leadership. However, Bala challenged the move in court.
During proceedings in September, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court directed that the respondents be put on notice.
David Mark subsequently filed an appeal against the order on December 18, 2025, but the Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissed the appeal in March.
In the wake of the legal battle, INEC announced that it would not recognise either the Bala-led faction or the Mark-led group until the Federal High Court delivers a final ruling on the matter.
The commission also removed David Mark’s name as national chairman from its official portal, further intensifying the uncertainty surrounding the party’s leadership ahead of the 2027 elections.
ADC Leadership Crisis Deepens as Bala-Led Faction Stages Fresh Protest at INEC Headquarters
