By Ayo Ayodele
The Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark, on Thursday accused the Federal Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of orchestrating a deliberate assault on Nigeria’s democracy, warning that recent actions threaten the survival of multiparty politics in the country.
Addressing a world press conference at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre, Mark said developments surrounding the leadership crisis within the ADC were part of a broader strategy to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He alleged that since the emergence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, democratic freedoms—including the rights to choose, associate, and participate—have come under sustained attack.
According to him, the coalition of opposition figures that aligned under the ADC was formed to resist what he described as a creeping dictatorship and to safeguard Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.
Mark traced the party’s leadership structure to a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on July 29, 2025, during which a caretaker committee was constituted with himself as chairman and former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as national secretary. He noted that the process was monitored by INEC and duly communicated to the commission.
The ADC chairman dismissed claims by former party official Nafiu Bala to the leadership, insisting Bala had resigned months before initiating legal action. He accused INEC of acting in bad faith by withdrawing recognition from both factions of the party, describing the move as “a false equivalence” and a misinterpretation of a Court of Appeal order directing parties to maintain the status quo.
He argued that INEC’s decision effectively left the party without leadership, a situation he said was not supported by any known legal precedent. Mark further accused the electoral body of partisanship and acting in contempt of court.
“There is only one conclusion Nigerians can draw: the electoral umpire has taken sides,” he said, adding that the commission could no longer be trusted to conduct credible elections.
The former Senate President warned that the development could undermine the ADC’s participation in upcoming governorship elections in Osun and Ekiti states, as well as disrupt its scheduled congresses and national convention in April.
He maintained that the party would proceed with its activities as planned, noting that INEC’s presence was not a legal requirement once due notice had been given.
Mark also called for the resignation or removal of INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, and other national commissioners, citing a loss of confidence in their ability to oversee free and fair elections.
Appealing to Nigerians and the international community, he urged vigilance and resistance against what he described as attempts to impose a one-party state, warning that the current situation represents a defining moment for the country’s democracy.
“This is not just about the ADC; it is about the survival of democracy in Nigeria,” he said.