Wahala dey for political scene as Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) don refuse to recognise any side for di leadership tory wey dey tear African Democratic Congress (ADC) apart. Di matter dey between former senate president David Mark and former deputy national chairman Nafiu Bala, wey both dey claim say na dem be di main boss for di party. Dis confusion dey happen as politicians dey prepare ground for 2027 elections.
Di whole kasala start when opposition people begin gather under ADC umbrella for 2025, wan form strong front against ruling All Progressives Congress. Big names like former vice-president Atiku Abubakar and some ex-governors join di movement. But inside matter scatter when former national chairman Ralph Nwosu resign and him National Working Committee follow am for July 2025. Dem put David Mark as interim chairman, but Nafiu Bala say him no resign, and by party constitution, na him suppose take over.
Bala carry matter go court for Abuja. Him ask Federal High Court to stop Mark people from parading themselves as leaders, and make INEC recognise am as acting chairman. Judge Emeka Nwite order make everybody appear for court. Mark appeal di matter, but Court of Appeal dismiss am for March 2026. Di court wey Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam head say di appeal no get merit and no follow correct procedure. Dem order make everybody maintain wetin dey ground, speed up di main case, and ask Mark to pay cost.
Because court no settle di main question of who be leader, INEC say dem no go deal with any side for now. INEC Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Mohammed Haruna, talk say commission go remain neutral as court order. Dem no go monitor ADC activities until court finally decide. But ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi say party go still hold congresses and convention even if INEC no dey.
For another matter, Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele don defend di new 2026 Electoral Act wey opposition parties dey complain about. For him Easter message, Bamidele say di law no be by force but from agreement with civil society groups, development partners and other stakeholders. He talk say all provisions follow global standard, especially di part wey ask political parties to submit digital membership register to INEC.
Bamidele explain say dis one go make things more transparent and stop big men wey no be party members from controlling party affairs. He also defend di part wey say parties must use direct primaries or consensus to pick candidates, to reduce money politics and make internal democracy strong. “Di final decision dey for party members hand now,” Bamidele yarn. “Na majority go carry di day.”
Apart from election matter, di Senate Leader condemn recent attacks for Plateau and Kaduna States, call am unacceptable. He talk say National Assembly dey work with federal and state governments to address insecurity, and dem dey amend Terrorism Act to give stronger punishment to perpetrators and dia sponsors.
Meanwhile, African Action Congress (AAC) don condemn alleged threat wey Minister of Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike reportedly make against Channels Television anchor Seun Okinbaloye. For statement wey party National Publicity Secretary Rex I. Elanu sign for April 5, AAC call di development “dangerous and unacceptable.”
Di statement recall how Wike don dey linked to threats against INEC officials before and political tension for Rivers State when he be governor. Dem talk about audio recordings wey dey circulate where Wike dey threaten electoral officials. AAC ask security agencies to investigate di matter well and arrest Wike if evidence dey.
Di whole wahala start when Wike talk during media briefing for Abuja after Okinbaloye ask am question on Politics Today programme about Nigeria drifting to one-party system because of ADC crisis. Wike reply say, “If there’s any way to break di screen, I would have shot him.” Civil society groups, media organisations and opposition people don condemn di statement.
As all dis dey happen, political analysts dey watch how di ADC leadership case go end. Dem say di outcome fit affect di party structure for 2027 elections, and long kasala fit weak di party ability to function well. For now, everybody dey wait for court to decide di final direction for ADC.
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