The Independent National Electoral Commission said no. It refused to monitor the congresses. It withdrew recognition of the party’s leadership. It warned that any convention held would not be recognized.
The African Democratic Congress went ahead anyway.
On Tuesday, the ADC successfully concluded its national convention in Abuja, with delegates overwhelmingly voting to amend the party’s constitution. The NEC meeting dissolved the Ralph Nwosu-led National Working Committee with immediate effect, while the David Mark-led NWC assumed full responsibility for running the affairs of the party. The resolution was ratified by the convention.
A political party just dared Nigeria’s electoral commission to its face. And INEC is still figuring out how to respond.
The Convention That Almost Didn’t Happen
In the days leading up to the convention, party officials raised concerns over what they perceived as deliberate attempts to frustrate their preparations. Venue complications. Last-minute cancellations. Gatekeepers are trying to shut them out. INEC had announced the removal of David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola’s names from its official portal as National Chairman and National Secretary of the ADC, respectively. The commission cited a leadership crisis within the ADC and a recent Court of Appeal judgment that it claimed further complicated the dispute.
INEC also said it would suspend recognition of all factions within the party and refrain from monitoring any conventions or congresses organized by groups aligned with the affected leaders.
The ADC’s response was simple. It had already issued INEC the required 21-day notice for its activities. The commission acknowledged receipt. The party would not halt its internal processes regardless of INEC’s position.
Speaking at the convention, National Chairman David Mark described the event as an “excellent performance” and said it marked the beginning of the party’s journey to Aso Rock in 2027. “Today marks the beginning of our journey to the Villa, and all of you here are part of this history. By next year, when we move to the Villa, I will remind you again,” Mark said.
That is not the language of a party that expects to be stopped.
The Chaos Behind the Scenes
The ADC did not just defy INEC. It also cleaned house. The party announced the expulsion of factional chairman Nafiu Bala, House of Representatives member Leke Abejide, and several others over alleged anti-party activities and attempts to create confusion and instability within its ranks.
Dino Melaye, a chieftain of the party, revealed just how close the convention came to being derailed. In an interview with Arise Television, he said attempts were made to stop the event, including efforts to shut the venue gates and ask organizers to vacate the premises. The planning committee resisted, maintaining that they had a duly signed agreement with the facility’s owners and had fulfilled all financial obligations.
“I have that information as a member of the planning committee and the chairman of the protocol committee,” Melaye said. “Not only were we even asked to leave yesterday, they wanted to shut the gates, but we insisted and said we are not going to leave because we have a contract duly signed with this place, and we paid fully. We have receipt of payments. We have duly signed contracts. No battalion would have moved us away from here today.”
Kola Ologbondiyan, chairman of the party’s media and publicity sub-committee for the convention, described the ordeal as “shameful.” He recounted an incident where party officials were invited to inspect an event centre in Mabushi, Abuja, only to be turned back upon arrival. “The ADC has passed through in the last few days in respect of venue is shameful,” he said. “People who say they are in government, people who have 36 governors plus FCT Minister, people who have all the money in this world, are so panicky.”
Atiku’s Bombshell
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar appeared at the convention and delivered a direct attack on INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan. He alleged that the electoral commission was being used to undermine democracy in Nigeria.
“I will not end these remarks without indicting the chairman of INEC and INEC itself because it is clear, it is obvious, the evidence is there — INEC is being used to scuttle democracy in this country,” Atiku said. “Now, let the Federal Government know that we fought the military to bring democracy in this country and we are going to fight them to bring democracy in this country. Let the chairman know we are not going to let him get away with his illegalities.”
Those are fighting words from a former vice president. And they were spoken at a convention INEC tried to stop.
What Analysts Are Saying
Public affairs analyst Nduka Odo said the convention signalled a renewed posture by the ADC as a viable opposition force. “ADC dared INEC and went ahead to hold convention,” Odo said. “This is the first time I see ADC acting like it is alive as an opposition political force. You cannot dislodge a ruling party by cowering to every of its machinations.”
He noted that while President Tinubu may be rated poorly on governance, he has earned a high score in political maneuvering. “It rests on ADC to keep daring through the hurdles that Tinubu sets for them,” Odo added. “The only way ADC will make headway is by daring and challenging all state organs that the ruling party will use.”
Not everyone is calling for confrontation. Olu Omotayo, President of the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network, urged INEC to allow the court to determine the legality of the ADC convention.
“The fact is that the matter is in the court,” he said. “INEC is heating up the polity if it is insisting that the party shouldn’t have its convention. The ideal thing is to wait for the court judgment and not to heat up the polity by saying ‘don’t do this or that’.”
The Bottom Line
So what just happened at the ADC’s convention that has INEC worried? The party defied the electoral commission’s warnings, held its convention anyway, dissolved its old leadership, installed David Mark as National Chairman, expelled factional members, and began openly campaigning for 2027. Atiku accused INEC of being weaponized against democracy. Party officials described a coordinated effort to shut them down. And the convention ended with a promise: the ADC is coming for Aso Rock.
INEC said the convention should not happen. It happened anyway. INEC said it would not recognize the outcome. The ADC is acting as if that warning does not matter. And with 2027 approaching, the question is no longer whether the ADC is a serious opposition party. The question is whether INEC can stop what the ADC has just started.
