The crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has deepened, with the party accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of partisanship and disregard for due process in its handling of the leadership dispute.

The ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the allegation on Thursday during an appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show, where he criticised INEC’s recent decisions concerning the party’s leadership.

INEC, through its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, had earlier announced the derecognition of David Mark as National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary of the party.

The commission stated that its action was based on a court directive ordering it to maintain the status quo pending the determination of a suit filed by a factional chairman, Nafiu Bala, who is challenging the legitimacy of the current leadership.

However, Abdullahi rejected INEC’s position, insisting that Bala no longer has legal standing within the party. 

According to him, Bala’s tenure had lapsed following his resignation and the subsequent dissolution of the executive committee to which he belonged.

He maintained that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), as the highest decision-making body after the national convention, had already taken binding decisions on the leadership structure.

Abdullahi questioned why INEC appeared to be recognising actions linked to Bala despite being formally notified of his resignation. He further accused the electoral body of violating the directive of the Court of Appeal to maintain the status quo.

“What INEC has done effectively is to violate the directive of the appeal court, and that is criminal,” Abdullahi said. “If you are talking about contempt, that is what INEC has done. INEC today is behaving like a criminal organisation.”

The controversy follows INEC’s removal of the names of Mark and Aregbesola from its official portal, alongside its announcement suspending recognition of all factions within the ADC pending the outcome of a substantive suit before the Federal High Court.