….State chairmen revolt
A constitutional crisis is brewing within Nigeria’s opposition politics as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) continues to recognise Ralph Okey Nwosu as African Democratic Congress (ADC) chairman on its official portal, despite the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) having appointed former Senate President David Mark as interim leader in July 2025.
This defiance by the electoral body has triggered open rebellion from ADC’s state chairmen, who are accusing INEC of enabling what they term an “undemocratic coup” against the party’s internal democracy.
The standoff has exposed deepening fractures within Nigeria’s political opposition ahead of crucial elections.
INEC’s refusal to update its records persists even after the ADC’s 99th NEC meeting, which was attended by the commission’s monitors, formally ratified the leadership transition.
According to a report by The Guardian, the electoral body’s spokesman Rotimi Lawrence maintained that “the old exco is still in charge,” leaving the party’s official portal unchanged with Nwosu’s details alongside other former officers.
This institutional resistance has emboldened ADC’s 37 state chairmen to launch a coordinated revolt, issuing a blistering statement that condemns Mark’s appointment as an “orchestrated political coup” and “blatant subversion of constitutional processes.” The chairmen, led by Elias Adokwu, have vowed to resist what they describe as a hostile takeover by “discredited power brokers,” threatening mass defections if INEC recognises the Mark faction.
The crisis has drawn comparisons with recent leadership tussles in other opposition parties, particularly the Labour Party, where INEC swiftly recognised a new faction following a Supreme Court ruling.
Founding APGA chairman Chekwas Okorie in an interview with The Guardian, surprisingly defended INEC’s stance, explaining that while Nwosu signed a transition agreement with the Mark group, proper constitutional handover requires a formal national convention monitored by the electoral body.
Okorie noted that Nwosu’s 20-year leadership had never been legally challenged, leaving INEC with no basis to unilaterally recognise changes.
This interpretation has further complicated the crisis, with the Mark faction now considering legal action to compel INEC’s compliance even as state chairmen prepare nationwide protests.
Political analysts warn that INEC’s refusal to recognise the Mark committee creates legal uncertainties around candidate nominations that could disenfranchise ADC supporters. As constitutional lawyers debate whether INEC’s statutory powers override party sovereignty, this crisis may ultimately require judicial resolution, potentially setting new precedents for internal party governance in Nigeria’s evolving democracy.
The outcome could determine not just ADC’s survival but also establish clearer rules for resolving future leadership disputes across Nigeria’s political landscape.
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