The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is embroiled in a severe leadership crisis, marked by rival claims to the national chairmanship and escalating legal battles. This internal turmoil has been intensified by the influx of high-profile politicians, leading to a profound split within the party and raising critical questions about legitimate leadership, adherence to party rules, and control of its machinery ahead of future elections in Nigeria.

One of the key claimants to the national chairmanship, Nafi’u Gombe, has vehemently rejected any reconciliation talks proposed by the faction led by former Senate President David Mark. Mr. Gombe, who insists he remains the lawful head of the ADC, publicly stated in an interview with BBC Hausa that he would not honor invitations from what he described as “illegitimate leaders.” His declaration came after former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, now associated with the Mark-led faction, lamented Mr. Gombe’s alleged failure to attend a scheduled meeting. Mr. Gombe accused the new entrants, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and David Mark, of bypassing constitutional procedures, asserting they joined the ADC “through the window, not the door.” He emphasized that due process must be followed for any individual or group to assume leadership roles or influence party structures. Mr. Gombe's immediate focus, he stated, is on repositioning the party to effectively challenge the administration of President Bola Tinubu in future elections, rather than engaging in internal negotiations. Furthermore, he proposed a controversial policy for generational change, suggesting an age cap of 55 years for candidates seeking elective office under the ADC platform, prioritizing youth inclusion.

The dispute has rapidly transitioned into a full-blown legal confrontation, with rival factions seeking judicial interpretation of the legitimate leadership. Mr. Gombe expressed confidence in the legal process, stating that a favorable ruling would empower him to restructure the party and expel individuals he believes were improperly admitted. The crisis deepened following a Court of Appeal ruling, which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) interpreted to mean it was barred from recognizing any of the leadership factions for the time being. Consequently, on April 1, INEC officially removed the names of David Mark (National Chairman) and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (National Secretary) from its official portal and website, previously recognizing them as the leadership of the ADC.

In response, the David Mark-led leadership of the ADC initiated a high-stakes legal push at the Federal High Court in Abuja to overturn INEC's decision. Represented by new lawyer Sulaiman Usman, SAN, the Mark faction filed a motion on notice on April 7, seeking several mandatory injunctions. These included an order to set aside INEC’s decision to remove their names from its portal and its refusal to attend or monitor ADC congresses or conventions, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit. They also sought an order directing INEC to immediately restore and maintain the names of all ADC’s National Working Committee (NWC) in its records and portal as they were prior to the institution of the suit. Additionally, they requested an order restraining INEC from tampering with or interfering with their leadership records or recognizing any competing claims. Usman argued that the "status quo ante bellum," referring to the last lawful and uncontested state of affairs before the suit was filed on September 2, 2025, confirmed Senator David Mark as the recognized National Chairman. He contended that INEC, acting under a misapprehension of the Court of Appeal order, created a leadership vacuum and that its actions were inconsistent with the order's true meaning, capable of rendering the subject matter of the suit nugatory and prejudicial to Mark and Aregbesola.

Further demonstrating the urgency, the Mark-led faction also sought an order for an accelerated hearing of the suit, requesting an abridgement of time for filing processes and day-to-day proceedings until its final determination. This request was predicated on the argument that the suit raises fundamental issues affecting the ADC’s leadership structure, with far-reaching implications for democratic governance and political participation. They highlighted that the Court of Appeal had already directed an expeditious hearing and that the current uncertainty was affecting the ADC's internal administration, impeding its political activities, and creating institutional confusion.

The widespread impact of the crisis is evident across the party. In Ondo State, the ADC’s Vice Chairman, Eric Oluwole, resigned on April 3, citing "irreconcilable differences over the leadership crisis bedevilling the ADC" and an inability to cope with the unsettling development. He announced his intention to move with his political allies to a more conducive environment. Furthermore, Myson Nejo, the party’s gubernatorial candidate in the November 2024 gubernatorial election for Ondo State, accused former members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of attempting to hijack the state's party structure. He firmly declared that the Ondo State ADC does not belong to Atiku Abubakar and would not be ceded to him, insisting on the party's independence. Following INEC’s directive to maintain the status quo, the Ondo State ADC had to suspend its planned ward, local government, and state congresses.

Amidst this internal strife, external political engagements have also taken place. Tanimu Turaki, the embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led a delegation to meet with the David Mark-led ADC. Describing it as a "moment of reflection, shared concern, and a reaffirmation of our collective duty to protect Nigeria’s democracy," Turaki noted that the discussions, which included figures like former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, focused on the challenges facing opposition parties and the demand for unity of purpose. Both parties shared a common resolve to defend democratic principles and preserve space for dissenting voices.

A significant aspect of the crisis involves a strong critique of INEC and the judiciary regarding their handling of internal party matters. Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central Senatorial Zone, accused INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan of deliberately sabotaging the ADC by feigning ignorance of established legal precedents. Umeh emphasized that Nigerian courts, including the Supreme Court, have repeatedly ruled that internal affairs and leadership disputes of political parties are not justiciable, citing judgments from as far back as 1983 and a more recent one on April 4, 2025, in the case of Senator Nenadi Usman against Julius Abure and the Labour Party. He further pointed to Section 83, subsection 5 of the Electoral Act 2026, as amended, which explicitly states that no court in Nigeria shall entertain jurisdiction over such matters. Umeh argued that neither the Federal High Court nor the Court of Appeal has jurisdiction in this dispute, making any orders they issue non-binding and INEC's actions based on them "mischievous" and "murder." He asserted that INEC, led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a law professor, should be aware of these legal provisions and that its misinterpretation of the Court of Appeal order created a vacuum and encouraged parallel structures, detrimental to the ADC's stability and democratic governance.