ADC Leadership Crisis: CSOs Reject David Mark Faction, Endorse Nafiu Bala, Cite Party Constitution
Civil society groups have backed Nafiu Bala’s leadership of ADC, rejecting the David Mark-led faction as unconstitutional while urging INEC to uphold court directives.
The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has drawn fresh reactions from civil society groups, as a coalition of organisations under the banner of the Civil Society Coalition for Transparency publicly endorsed the leadership of Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, rejecting the rival faction led by former Senate President David Mark.
The coalition made its position known on Friday during a protest at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja, where it accused the Mark-led group of attempting to unlawfully take over the party’s structure in violation of its constitution and existing judicial pronouncements.
Addressing journalists, spokesperson of the coalition, Rt. Comrade Mike Femi, said the action of the group was driven by a collective commitment to safeguarding democratic values, the rule of law, and constitutional governance.
According to him, the coalition finds the emergence of the David Mark-led leadership inconsistent with the provisions of the ADC constitution, particularly regarding eligibility for leadership positions.
Citing Article 9, Sub-Article 4 of the party’s constitution, the group noted that individuals seeking national or zonal leadership roles must have been registered members of the party for a minimum of two years, while those vying for state, local government, and ward positions must have at least one year of active membership, alongside evidence of financial commitment through dues.
The coalition argued that the alleged failure of the Mark-led faction to meet these requirements renders its claim to leadership “null and void.”
“This constitutional provision invalidates any attempt to impose leadership outside the laid-down rules of the party,” the coalition stated.
The CSOs also raised concerns over what they described as an attempt to undermine internal democracy within the party, warning that such actions could set a dangerous precedent if not addressed.
As part of its resolutions, the coalition reaffirmed its support for the rule of law as the foundation of democratic governance and called on all political actors to respect court decisions and constitutional provisions.
It further rejected the David Mark-led leadership, describing it as “unconstitutional and unknown” within the party’s legitimate structure, while commending INEC for its stance in delisting the faction’s names in compliance with a subsisting Court of Appeal directive.
The group urged the electoral body to go further by fully recognising the leadership of Hon. Nafiu Bala across all official platforms and correspondence, in line with the court’s order maintaining the status quo.
The protest adds another dimension to the ongoing crisis within the ADC, which has in recent weeks witnessed multiple factions laying claim to leadership, alongside parallel engagements with INEC and a series of legal disputes.
Observers say the involvement of civil society organisations underscores the broader implications of the crisis, particularly for Nigeria’s democratic process, where adherence to party constitutions and judicial rulings remains critical to political stability.
The coalition, however, called on Nigerians to remain calm, peaceful, and law-abiding as the situation unfolds, expressing confidence that adherence to due process would ultimately prevail.
“Impunity is temporary; the rule of law is enduring,” the group declared.