The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is currently embroiled in a significant leadership dispute, which intensified shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognized former Senate President David Mark as national chairman and former Interior Minister Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as national secretary. This recognition, made official on INEC's website, was quickly met with a legal challenge and conflicting narratives regarding court proceedings.

Barely 24 hours after INEC's acknowledgment, Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC deputy national chairman, filed an ex parte application in the Federal High Court in Abuja. The application sought an interim injunction to restrain INEC from recognizing Mark and Aregbesola's leadership of the party. However, contrary to claims by aggrieved members, the court, presided over by Hon. Justice Emeka Nwite, did not issue an order restraining Mark and Aregbesola. In its ruling on September 4, 2025, the court refused Gombe’s ex parte application, instead ordering that the defendants be put on notice to appear and show cause why the application should not be granted. The matter was then adjourned to September 15, 2025.

ADC national publicity secretary Malam Bolaji Abdullahi clarified the court's decision, accusing the opposing camp of resorting to "fake news" by claiming a restraining order was issued. Abdullahi described these individuals as "political jobbers" whose desperation stemmed from their disappointment with INEC's decision to acknowledge the party’s leadership change. He urged the media and public to verify information, emphasizing that the court merely directed the matter to proceed with due process.

The leadership tussle began after former ADC national chairman Ralph Nwosu formally handed over the party's leadership to an opposition coalition movement in July. This move was rejected by some aggrieved members, including former presidential candidate Dumebi Kachikwu and Nafiu Bala Gombe, who refused to recognize the Mark-led leadership. Gombe went as far as declaring himself the party’s national chairman. The Mark-led ADC, however, asserted that Bala Gombe had resigned as deputy national chairman and insisted that all processes leading to its takeover were legitimate.

Meanwhile, the aggrieved faction, represented by Dr. Christopher O. Okechukwu, who identified himself as ADC’s director of media and public affairs, hailed what they described as the Federal High Court’s decision to restrain Mark, Aregbesola, and others from parading themselves as national executive members. Okechukwu claimed this ruling validated their position and reaffirmed their commitment to restoring the party's "authentic glory." He called for unity behind Hon. Nafiu Bala as national chairman and extended an invitation to prominent political figures and Nigerians to join the ADC under this leadership.

Adding another layer to the conflict, local government chairmen of the ADC in Owerri Zone raised an alarm over attempts by unnamed political actors to hijack the party’s structure. Through a communiqué, seven LGA chairmen declared their intent to resist any subversion of the structure or imposition of illegal leadership, stating that the ADC constitution remains the supreme guide. Similarly, a concerned group in the Kogi State chapter warned against a "forceful and unconstitutional takeover" by "strange interlopers" or "members of the coalition." This group, with Usman Lukman as spokesperson, reaffirmed unwavering loyalty to Rt. Hon. Elder Leke Abejide as the undisputed leader of ADC in Kogi State and urged security agencies to prevent any activities not sanctioned by Abejide or the constitutionally recognized state chairman.