- Safiu Kehinde
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has released the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) affidavit which affirmed the David Mark-led National Working Committee’s (NWC) leadership of the party.
This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday on the official X handle of ADC Vanguard, the coalition mobilisation wing of the party.
The release of the affidavit is coming under the heels of INEC’s withdrawal of its recognition of the Mark-led faction of the party in compliance with the Appeal Court’s order.
NPO Reported that INEC had last week resolved to de-recognise the ADC factional NWC with the commission removing the names of the leaders from its portal pending the resolution of the court cases between the Mark-led faction and the Nafiu Bala faction.
ADC had since faulted INEC’s decision, defending the legitimacy of Mark’s leadership with documents showing the commission’s attendance and recognition of the faction’s activities.
Latest in the list of documents released by the opposition party is the affidavit which affirmed the Mark as the National Chairman of the party.
The ADC called the attention of the public to the clauses 14 to 19 of the affidavit dated September 12, 2025.
As seen in the affidavit issued in reaction to an originating summon filed by Nafiu, the INEC’s Assistant Executive Officer, Jacob Ayuba, affirmed that the transition of the ADC leadership to David Mark was completed and cannot be altered.
Ayuba had in the clauses charged the court to resist from interfering with the affairs of the ADC’s internal crisis.
“That I know as a fact that an injunction cannot lie to stop a completed act (that is, recognition of the 2nd and 3rd Defendants as National Chairman and National Secretary of the 1st Defendant and the publication of their names on the 4th Defendant’s website).
“That the Plaintiff’s application is in substance an invitation to this Honourable Court to delve into issues of internal/domestic affairs of 1st Defendant as a political party
“That I know as a fact that a Court of record should not dabble into a political question which remains the exclusive preserve of political parties which should be allowed to do their things.
“That the Plaintiff’s grievances as contained in his Originating Summons relate solely to the 1st Defendant’s internal processes of changing National Officers of the Party.” Parts of the clauses read.
Ayuba further stated that court’s jurisdiction of party affairs is limited to issues that may arise from primary elections.
“That I know as a fact that the jurisdiction of the Court in party affairs is limited to where its complaint is about the conduct of its primaries for the selection/ nomination of a candidate and which is not the case of the Plaintiff in this case.
“That I know as a fact that this Honourable Court being a subordinate Court to the Supreme Court is bound to enforce the decisions of the Supreme Court in APC v. Moses (2021) 14 NWLR (Pt 1796) 295 at 321, Jegede v. INEC (2021) 14 NWLR (pt. 1797) 409 at pages. 562-563, paras, G-E and in No. SC/CV/18/2025 between Sen. Samuel N. Anyanwyu vs Aniagu Emmuael and 3 others delivered on the 21st day of March 2025 on domestic affairs of the Political Parties.” The clause read further.
The ADC Vanguard, in reaction, expressed concern over the sudden change of decision by INEC, alleging that the commission is being used to push a one-party system agenda of the All Progressives Congress and President Bola Tinubu.
“It is now crystal clear that Tinubu’s APC and the embattled INEC Chairman, Prof. Amupitan, are using INEC to push a one-party system in Nigeria.
“This development raises grave concerns about the independence, neutrality, and credibility of the electoral process in Nigeria.
“When an institution constitutionally expected to act as an impartial umpire is seen to be taking sides in internal party affairs, it strikes at the very foundation of democratic fairness and public trust.” The group wrote.
The further harped on the need to protect multiparty democracy as it called on Nigerians to rise against the alleged plot.
“No democracy can survive where state institutions are turned into political weapons against opposition parties.
“What is happening before our eyes is not just an attack on ADC, but a dangerous attempt to weaken multiparty democracy and silence alternative political voices in Nigeria.
“Every patriotic citizen must understand the seriousness of this moment. We call on all Nigerians to rise to the occasion and save our democracy.” The statement read further.
See affidavit below
