INEC suspends both ADC factions as Kachikwu blasts Mark's 'back door' takeover
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) suspended recognition of both warring factions of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Wednesday, following a Court of Appeal directive to maintain the status quo amid ongoing litigation. The electoral body's decision affects the caretaker committee led by former Senate President David Mark and a rival faction headed by Nafiu Bala. Kachikwu, a former ADC presidential candidate, reacted sharply on Thursday, accusing Mark and other recently admitted members of lacking ideology and seeing power as their birthright.
Mark's faction includes prominent figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, NNPP's Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Minister Rotimi Amaechi, former Osun Governor Rauf Aregbesola (national secretary), and others. Kachikwu alleged that ex-ADC chairman Ralph Nwosu effectively "sold the ADC" to these politicians last year after they failed to establish the ADA and SDP. He warned that the ADC is a "bad market" and that pending court cases may reach the Supreme Court, making any 2027 political ambition through the party a "nonstarter."
He further claimed the Mark faction planned to inflate party position forms from ₦50,000 to ₦500,000 to disenfranchise poorer members. While dismissing fears of a one-party state—citing PDP, LP, NNPP, and others—Kachikwu questioned why opposition figures would hijack ADC instead of joining existing parties.
Will opposition figures now redirect their 2027 ambitions to PDP, LP, or other established parties, or attempt to rebuild ADC from the ground up?