A combined photo of David Mark and ADC logo
By Our Reporter
The chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark has said the ADC will proceed with its scheduled nationwide congresses beginning April 9, 2026, despite a firm warning from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The development signals a deepening standoff between the opposition party and the electoral umpire, raising concerns over potential legal consequences that could affect the ADC’s participation in future elections.
In a public notice issued from its National Headquarters in Abuja on Friday and signed by Spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party under its national chairman, David Mark, maintained that it had complied with all statutory requirements and formally notified INEC ahead of the planned activities.
“This is to notify all party members that, despite INEC’s illegal actions, the African Democratic Congress will continue with its congresses as scheduled, having duly notified INEC by our letters dated 27th February 2026 and 28th March 2026,” the notice stated.
The ADC outlined a detailed timetable for the exercise, beginning with the “Screening of Aspirants-7th April 2026,” followed by “Appeals on Screening Exercise – 8th April 2026.” The party said the core grassroots congresses—covering polling units, wards, and local governments—will hold on April 9, while “Appeals on the Congresses – 10th April 2026” will address disputes arising from that stage.
According to the schedule, “State Congresses – 11th April 2026” will follow, alongside “Appeals on the State Congresses – 12th April 2026,” culminating in a national “Convention-14th April 2026.”
The notice was jointly signed by the National Organising Secretary, Prince Chinedu Idigo, and the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.
However, INEC has warned that proceeding with the congresses and convention in defiance of court orders could expose the party to serious legal risks, including possible disqualification from elections.
Speaking on Arise News on Friday, INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan (SAN), had clarified that the commission’s position is rooted in ongoing litigation involving the ADC, stressing that all parties must respect judicial directives.
“As far as we are concerned, INEC is a party in the case and INEC was sued as a defendant by a member of the ADC,” he said.
“Secondly, the court is very clear that parties, including David Mark himself, should refrain from doing anything that will fuel the situation of inter-complaints in the court.”
Amupitan explained that INEC’s actions were not arbitrary but based on a court order aimed at preserving the integrity of the judicial process.
“If they are going ahead with their congress, with their convention, it is left for them to look at it, whether it is in contravention of the Court of Appeal,” he said.
“INEC did not just take a decision. We didn’t just wake up one day and take the decision. There was something that led to it.
“There was an order of court not to do anything or take any step that would render any proceeding in court negatory, and also put the trial court in a situation of helplessness of inter-complainants.”
He further revealed that the planned congresses and convention are already part of the issues before the court, warning that taking premature action could undermine the outcome of the case.
“So, if already they asked not to do any congress and convention, it is a relief that is being claimed, essentially the file in motion for that purpose which has not been determined,” he said.
Drawing from past electoral precedents, the INEC chairman cited the experiences of Zamfara and Plateau states, where political parties suffered setbacks after failing to comply with court orders related to their primaries.
“If they decide to go ahead with their congress and convention, let me tell you what happened in Zamfara,” he said.
“It has happened in the past, and we don’t want to conduct an election without this early warning, and at the end of the day, after you have won, the court will again declare your election invalid.
“The implication is that the person with the second highest number of votes will be declared a winner. It happened in Plateau State during the last election where the question of primaries was an issue.
“Congresses were not held in some parts of Plateau state. The court said, go and do those primaries.
“Unfortunately, they did not obey the court order. Failure to obey the court order has consequences.”
The crisis intensified earlier in the week when INEC announced the suspension of its recognition of the Senator David Mark-led faction of the ADC, citing a court ruling.
The commission subsequently removed the names of the party’s leaders from its official portal, replacing them with the notation “By court order,” effectively freezing official engagement with the faction.
In a swift reaction, the ADC on Thursday called for the immediate resignation o the INEC chairman, accusing the commission of partisanship and alleging that its actions were aimed at weakening the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The unfolding dispute now places the ADC at a critical crossroads, as its decision to proceed with the congresses could either reaffirm its internal structure or trigger further controversies.
