In what appears a setback to the coalition African Democratic Congress (ADC)’s preparation for 2027 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Wednesday announced that it was no longer recognising the David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.
It said the names of the NWC members would be removed from its portal pursuant to the order of the Court of Appeal to maintain the status quo ante bellum until the matter is decided by the trial court.
…Anti-Mark protest
The development is coming after a rival ADC group had, Wednesday, stormed the INEC headquarters asking for the sack of the Mark-led NWC.
They specifically demanded the recognition of Nafiu Bala as the party’s national chairman, urging the INEC to respect the March 12, 2026 judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division.
Led by Bala, they called on INEC to comply with a subsisting Court of Appeal judgment and cautioned against any action capable of undermining ongoing judicial proceedings.
In his remarks, Bala’s Special Adviser on Strategy, Abimiku Monday, called for the defence of the constitutional order, chanting slogans such as “Obey the Court,” “Respect the Constitution,” and “No to impunity,” among several others.
…INEC explains decision
Announcing the decision in a statement Wednesday, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said this was the resolution of the Commission at its meeting on Tuesday.
The statement said: “To maintain the status quo ante bellum as directed by the Court of Appeal based on the facts and position of the parties existing before 2nd September 2025, when the case was filed by the plaintiff.
“That the Commission would, in accordance with the Order of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/145/2026 refrain from taking any step or doing any act capable of foisting a fait accompli on the court or otherwise rendering nugatory the proceedings before the trial court, having regard to all the processes filed before the trial Court.
“The Commission refused to accede to the request of the Plaintiff’s Solicitors to allow Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe to take over the affairs of ADC pending the determination of the case.
“The Commission shall not, given the reliefs claimed in the Originating Summons and the pending motions, receive any further communication or deal with any of the parties or groups pertaining the affairs of the party and will not monitor any Meeting, Congress or Convention convened on behalf of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) by any group until the matter is decided by the Federal High Court, Abuja so as not to do any act capable of foisting a fait accompli on the court or otherwise rendering nugatory the proceedings before the trial court.”
It further said: “Since the names of the current National Working Committee members led by Senator David Mark were uploaded on 9th September, 2025 by INEC (7 days after the suit was instituted), the names would be removed from the INEC portal pursuant to the order of the Court of Appeal to maintain the status quo ante bellum until the matter is decided by the trial court.
“The Commission reiterates its unwavering commitment to neutrality, impartiality and strict compliance with judicial orders. Political parties and stakeholders are urged to conduct themselves in a manner that does not jeopardise the Electoral Time Table for the 2027 general election.”
…Coalition, APC court Bala
Meanwhile, barely 24 hours after the coalition ADC visited Bauchi state governor, Bala Mohammed, a strong delegation of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), led by its National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, also stormed the state to court the governor.
The delegation, which had Kano state Governor Kabiru Abba Yusuf, had a closed-door meeting with Mohammed at the Government House.
At the meeting were the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Abubakar Suleiman, and Secretary to the State Government Aminu Hammayo, the Chief of Staff, as well as some major stakeholders.
Findings by Blueprint revealed that the move was targeted at wooing the governor into the APC from the crisis ridden People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Although it was widely reported that the governor was considering the ADC as a party of choice, such development could not be confirmed when Blueprint deepened its search for Mohammed’s next political move.
No formal briefing after the meeting which a source said lasted about one hour, “as the governor is still looking at which platform to embrace between the duo of the APC and the ADC.”
The governor appears to be in a fix on which of the two rival political platforms he should pitch tent with ahead of the 2027 general elections to stabilise his political fortune.
But briefing journalists after the visit of the ADC officials who had earlier visited Tuesday, he expressed regret over the simmering crisis tearing the PDP apart.
Mohammed, who accused FCT Minister Nyesom Wike of frustrating peace moves, said all efforts he personally made to reconcile warring groups yielded no results.
He also opened up on how he sought President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s intervention to resolve the festering crisis in the opposition PDP.
“I met President Tinubu three times to help with PDP’s reconciliation because Wike was used to destroy us, and he was amenable (open) to the reconciliation.
“I even swallowed my ego to meet Wike at his house in Abuja, but Wike told me he’s already a conqueror and has taken all the positions in the PDP. I thought the PDP convention wouldn’t hold, so we’d withdraw our cases in court and come to a negotiation, but neither the presidency nor Wike called me back,” the governor had said in frustration.
…Wike fires at Bauchi governor
But in a riposte, Wike described Mohammed as inconsistent, claiming that prior to his faction’s recently organised national convention, the governor approached and begged him for the party’s National Secretary, a request he turned him down without hesitation.
The FCT Minister further claimed that in 2022, the Bauchi governor had asked him to support Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was then the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the 2023 election, but allegedly backtracked a few days later.
Wike disclosed this Wednesday while inspecting the ongoing projects in Jahi and Kuje in Abuja.
Also, on the allegation that he was planted to destroy the PDP, Wike described it as “embarrassing, baseless and a product of an inconsistent mindset.”
“It’s very embarrassing. He (Bala Mohammed) says one thing in the morning; in the afternoon, he says a different thing. But for us, we are very happy that he has told Nigerians who he is—that he’s never been stable,” Wike said.
He further said: “You’re already conquered; you lost. You’re talking from a weak point, and you want to demand for Secretary? That is not done.”
“The convention has shown that the PDP is alive and kicking. Yes, there are one or two issues, but that is normal, and we will fix them,” the minister stated, adding that Nigerians needed to be wary of those who “say one thing today and another tomorrow.”
On his status within the PDP and serving minister under an APC government, Wike said: “I have made it clear: I will not leave the PDP, but I will continue to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. That has always been my position since 2022. I didn’t hide. Unlike those who will say one thing in the morning and say another in the afternoon.”
