ADC Gains 40,000 Members After INEC Derecognises Party Leadership
ADC Gains 40,000 Members After INEC Derecognises Party Leadership
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has reported a dramatic surge in membership following a controversial move by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to derecognise its leadership factions.
According to the party, over 40,000 Nigerians signed up as new members within hours after INEC’s announcement on Wednesday night an indication, it says, of growing public support despite the ongoing internal crisis.
In a post on X, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, disclosed that the registrations occurred between 7:00 PM and 7:00 AM the following day, describing the development as a show of resilience and confidence in the party.
“This situation has only strengthened support for the ADC rather than weakening it,” he stated.
INEC Takes Hardline Position
INEC had earlier announced that it would no longer recognise or engage with any of the warring factions within the party, including the group led by former Senate President David Mark and another faction linked to Rafiu Bala.
The commission said it would stop accepting correspondences from both sides and suspend monitoring of their meetings, congresses, and conventions pending the final determination of the matter before the Federal High Court.
Additionally, INEC revealed plans to remove David Mark’s name from its official portal, further escalating the leadership tussle.
Crisis Rooted in Leadership Dispute
The dispute dates back to 2025 when opposition figures adopted the ADC as a platform to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections.
Following this, former party chairman Ralph Nwosu handed over leadership to David Mark and former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola, who assumed interim roles as national chairman and secretary.
However, the arrangement was contested by Nafiu Bala Gombe, who argued that he should have automatically succeeded as chairman after the resignation of the previous leadership.
Political Implications
Despite the uncertainty, the ADC insists the surge in membership reflects growing momentum as it positions itself as a major opposition force ahead of 2027.
