The crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress took another turn on Thursday, after a chieftain of the party, Nafiu Bala, led a group of his supporters to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.
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Bala is laying claim to the leadership of the ADC and has been going against the David Mark-led group in court.
His protest comes a day after the Mark faction staged a similar march to the INEC office.
During today’s demonstration, Bala asked INEC to recognise him as the authentic chairman of the ADC, citing a court of appeal ruling.
He also said the Mark group is attempting to seize control of the party unlawfully.
On April 1, INEC withdrew its recognition of the leadership of the ADC, citing a court directive.
The electoral umpire also said it would not monitor congresses and conventions organised by any leadership of the party until a court of competent jurisdiction rules otherwise.
The Mark faction, which has chieftains like Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi and Rabiu Kwankwaso within its ranks, has repeatedly labelled INEC “partisan” in the wake of its stance, while accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of trying to foist a one-party system on the country.
The APC and presidency have baulked at the allegation, telling the ADC that its “woes” are self-inflicted.
Speaking during the protest at the INEC headquarters, Bala said the Mark-led group has engaged in irregular processes, which includes the “unauthorised transfer of party leadership” and deploying “forged signatures” to legitimise its position.
“The incident involving the unauthorised transfer of power to David Mark and his associates raises significant concerns regarding the integrity of governance and the rule of law,” he said.
“The intruders, by rudely forging the signatures of genuine members and leaders of the ADC, not only undermined the democratic process but also violated the trust vested in these representatives by their constituents.
“Such actions reflect a troubling trend in which illegitimate means are employed to achieve political ends, thereby eroding public confidence in political institutions.
“The implications of this deceit extend beyond the immediate context, as they can foster a culture of impunity and disillusionment among the electorate.”
He implored relevant authorities to investigate the allegations and ensure accountability, saying the multi-factional leadership crisis rocking the ADC began after the resignation of Ralph Nwosu as chairman.
Bala asked INEC to update its official records to reflect his position as national chairman, reiterating that doing so would align with the court’s ruling and help restore stability within the party.
