The African Democratic Congress (ADC) will hold its national convention today despite lingering leadership disputes and legal challenges surrounding the party.
The party said all arrangements have been concluded for the convention, which is expected to attract between 2,500 and 3,000 delegates from across the country.
The gathering will ratify the national working committee (NWC) under the leadership of former Senate President, David Mark.
The convention is holding amid an ongoing leadership tussle within the party, with a pending appeal at the Supreme Court seeking to overturn an earlier Court of Appeal judgment that affected the recognition of the current leadership.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had earlier withdrawn recognition of the Mark-led leadership and stated it would not engage with any faction of the party until the matter is resolved in court. The commission maintained that it will uphold the status quo pending the outcome of the legal process.
Despite these constraints, the ADC insisted that the convention will proceed as scheduled.
In the build-up to the event, the party encountered difficulties securing a venue, alleging that it was denied access to key public facilities, including the Eagle Square and the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Velodrome.
However, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, denied the allegation, stating that no formal application was submitted for the use of the facilities. He noted that access to such venues is subject to due process, including proper application and payment of required fees.
Similarly, Presidential spokesman Sunday Dare dismissed claims of political interference, insisting that all political parties enjoy equal rights under the law.
Meanwhile, prominent political figures, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rotimi Amaechi, had recently protested at INEC headquarters, accusing the government of undermining opposition parties.
In a related development, the party’s caucus in the House of Representatives has called for the removal of INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, citing concerns over alleged partisanship and lack of neutrality—claims the electoral body has denied.
Despite the controversies, the ADC leadership maintained that today’s convention will go ahead, describing it as a crucial step in strengthening the party’s structure ahead of future elections.
