WorldStage– State chairmen of a Nigeria’s political opposition party, African Democratic Congress (ADC), have expressed public support for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in its decision to delist the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Senator David Mark, setting a new tune for leadership crisis rocking the opposition party.
INEC had on April 1, 2026 removed the names of Senator David Mark (National Chairman) and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (National Secretary) from its official portal.
The commission stated it would no longer recognize any faction or monitor party activities until the leadership dispute is resolved by the courts.
The decision follows a March 12, 2026, Court of Appeal ruling directing all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum—the state of affairs before the internal dispute began in September 2025.
The ADC state chairmen’s support for the INEC decision was declared at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 when the state chairmen, led by Abia State Chapter Chairman Don Norman Obinna, stated their total support for INEC’s move.
They dissociated themselves from both the David Mark and Nafiu Bala Gombe factions, recognizing the leadership of the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, as the only legal authority.
The David Mark faction had rejected the delisting, accusing INEC of government manipulation and attempting to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.
Its Youth Wing also issued a 72-hour ultimatum to INEC to reinstate the Mark-led leadership, threatening nationwide protests if their demands were not met.
Despite the crisis, the party spokesperson claimed membership grew from 40,000 to over 500,000 in early April 2026 as Nigerians reacted to the developments.
