Prominent African Democratic Congress (ADC) leaders, including Rauf Aregbesola, Aminu Tambuwal, Dino Melaye, and David Mark, joined the demonstration.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Senators Rabiu Kwankwaso and former Governor Peter Obi led a massive protest to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.
Prominent African Democratic Congress (ADC) leaders, including Rauf Aregbesola, Aminu Tambuwal, Dino Melaye, and David Mark, joined the demonstration.
The protest followed the party’s allegation that INEC is favouring the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to block ADC candidates from contesting in the 2027 elections.
INEC, however, denied the claim, insisting it is acting within the law.
The crisis within the ADC escalated when INEC removed the names of David Mark, National Chairman, and Rauf Aregbesola, National Secretary, from its portal, citing a Court of Appeal ruling.
The dispute centres on Nafiu Bala, factional chairman of the ADC, who has been locked in a legal battle with Mark over party leadership.
Bala, formerly Deputy National Vice Chairman, rejected Mark’s ratification as National Chairman in July, claiming he should assume leadership after the previous executive committee resigned.
Bala had obtained a Federal High Court injunction in September 2025 to restrain Mark and his National Working Committee from parading themselves as party leaders and to compel INEC to recognise him as acting national chairman.
Mark appealed the decision in December 2025, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal in March 2026, issuing preservatory orders.
Bala also filed another motion to stop the ADC from holding conventions or meetings and to prevent INEC from recognising any such activities until the dispute is resolved.
Last week, INEC said it received multiple letters from solicitors representing both factions, each making competing claims to the party’s leadership.
The commission said it will continue to follow the Court of Appeal’s orders in managing the ADC leadership crisis.
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