The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed allegations from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over the Independent National Electoral Commission’s decision to delist the David Mark-led National Working Committee, insisting that the party’s challenges are self-inflicted and not the result of external interference.
APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, in a statement on Thursday, described it as escapist and irresponsible for the ADC to blame the APC for its internal challenges, which he said the ADC itself created.
INEC on Wednesday announced its decision to delist key figures of the ADC, including National Chairman David Mark, National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, and others.
The commission, through its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, explained that the action was taken in compliance with a court order directing it to maintain the status quo pending the outcome of the case at the trial court.
The ADC has been grappling with a prolonged leadership crisis since 2025, following the emergence of a new National Working Committee led by Mark in July 2025.
The dispute originated from disagreements over the tenure of former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu, whose term ended in August 2022.
However, Nwosu was reportedly involved in facilitating the 2025 leadership transition, a development that sparked opposition from factions within the party.
The disagreement later escalated as rival groups laid claim to the party’s leadership, leading to multiple court cases and deepening uncertainty within the ADC, with concerns that the internal rift could affect its preparedness for the 2027 general elections.
Embattled Chairman Mark and ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, have alleged that the APC and President Bola Tinubu are behind their challenges.
In response, the APC dismissed the claims, insisting that INEC’s decision to derecognise the Mark-led executives was in line with a valid court judgment, legally justified, and consistent with both electoral guidelines and democratic practice.
APC stated, “Quite apart from being an assembly of Nigeria’s most confused and desperate politicians, the African Democratic Congress has distinguished itself as a peddler of rabid conspiracy theories about what the All Progressives Congress is or is not doing to undermine the party.
“The ADC is a party that never was. By design, it was a kamikaze contraption with a follow-come self-destructive detonator. It had to unravel and is now unravelling fast by instalment.
“When its factional leadership under the duo of David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola parachuted into the party like thoughtless and planless commandos, and hijacked the party in violent violation of its constitutional stipulations regarding leadership succession, and in disregard of the rule of law, the ADC set its own date with destiny.”
The ruling party stated that the ADC has nothing to offer beyond its baseless attacks on the APC, adding that targeting the APC appears to be the party’s main focus and guiding principle.
It continued, “The Independent National Electoral Commission decision to de-recognise the factional David Mark-led executives in compliance with the judgment of the court is valid in law, justified in fact, and consistent with electoral policy and democratic practice. It is the consequence of the Party’s reckless and desperate misadventure.
“It is therefore highly escapist and irresponsible for the ADC to blame the APC for its internal woes, of which they are the sole architects.
“The ADC’s unwillingness to take responsibility for its miserable failure to follow due process, order its internal affairs, and manage its self-inflicted crisis makes the ADC grossly unfit as a platform to be taken seriously by Nigerians. A party that cannot fix itself cannot possibly fix Nigeria.
“The ADC has absolutely nothing to offer more than its senseless attacks against the APC. Attacking the APC seems to be its cardinal commitment and manifesto. It is a party bereft of ideas and lost in vain desperation for power.”
The PUNCH