September 15, (THEWILL) — A day after the African Democratic Congress, ADC, admitted that there were grievances amongst its members and subsequently expressed the desire to engage the aggrieved, the party has raised the alarm over a fresh plot to destabilise it.
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi on Sunday stated on his verified X handle that reports claiming the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, issued a list of cleared 37 state chairmen, including the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, for the ADC was not only fake but also a fresh attempt to cause confusion and destabilise the party.
Earlier on Saturday in Abuja, Abdullahi had told journalists that some political agents of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) within were seeking to destabilise the ADC, just as they attempted to do to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the Labour Party, LP, and the Social Democratic Party, SDP.
THEWILL recalls that these political parties had faced prolonged leadership crises until the courts and INEC intervened to restore order by according recognition to party officials processed according to party rules and the Electoral Act.
“You have people, even within leadership ranks, who voluntarily resigned their positions. Some have also expressed grievances against the party,” Abdullahi said on Saturday, adding, “But when people act belligerently with clear ulterior motives to destabilise the party, we cannot continue appeasing such individuals.”
Abdullahi who noted that both Senator David Mark as National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary can now sign and issue membership cards, following INEC recognition, despite a court case, “which only requested our appearance on September 15,” on Sunday raised the alarm over another plot against the party.
Published in many online media (not including THEWILL), the report claimed that INEC had confirmed the list of ADC state party chairmen across Nigeria and listed 37 names for state Chairmen, including the FCT.
“This development marks a significant step in consolidating the structures of our great party nationwide, ensuring proper leadership at the grassroots, state and national levels,” the report read in part.
Responding on Sunday, Abdullahi said the report was “fake news,” orchestrated by agents of destabilisation. He said the party leadership issued no such statement and INEC has issued no such confirmation.
Abdullahi said, “The attention of the national leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has been drawn to a widely circulated statement titled ‘Coalition Update: INEC Confirms ADC State Chairmen Nationwide,’ which purports that the Independent National Electoral Commission released and validated a list of State Party Chairmen for the ADC across the country.
“This report is fake news, obviously engineered by individuals who have shown relentless determination to sow confusion within our party and mislead the public. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to the best of our knowledge and verification, has issued no such confirmation, neither officially nor unofficially.
“In this regard, let it be clearly stated that the process of constituting and ratifying state leadership within any political party lies squarely within the party’s constitutional prerogative. INEC only recognises what the party submits through the appropriate channels after due process. As of today, no such comprehensive list has been submitted or confirmed by INEC.
The ADC spokesman reiterated the “party’s commitment to internal democracy and discipline” and advised stakeholders to remain vigilant against misinformation.
On September 10, 2025, INEC formally recognised former Senate President, David Mark, as the National Chairman of ADC with former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, as National Secretary.
The recognition followed the decision of the party’s founder and immediate past chairman, Ralph Nwosu, who on July 2 dissolved the National Working Committee (NWC) and endorsed an interim leadership led by Mark.
At its 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, the Nwosu-led ExCo, representing the old leadership of the ADC, officially handed over the reins of authority to Mark and Aregbesola, while also inaugurating a 50-member Policy Committee to review the party’s manifesto and drive reforms.
INEC confirmed the change on its website last Wednesday, listing the new executive members of the party.
The recognised NWC, besides Mark and Aregbesola, include Mani Ibrahim Ahmad as National Treasurer, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor as National Legal Adviser, and Akibu Dalhatu as National Financial Secretary and Abdullahi as National Publicity Secretary.
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