Former senator Dino Melaye has criticized the All Progressives Congress (APC) following the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) suspension of official recognition for competing leadership factions within the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Posting on X on Wednesday, Melaye condemned the electoral commission’s decision and accused the ruling party of attempting to consolidate political power into a single-party framework. He suggested that ongoing political realignments involving prominent opposition figures would highlight restrictive governance practices and affirmed that political stakeholders would continue to resist administrative interventions.
INEC’s directive addresses prolonged internal disputes within the ADC over executive positions. The commission confirmed it has removed David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its official registry as National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively. Additionally, the electoral body stated it would not formally recognize legal filings by Nafiu Bala Gombe, who is pursuing judicial validation to be declared national chairman.
According to an official statement, INEC will temporarily suspend recognition of all ADC factions and halt monitoring of party conventions or congresses until the Federal High Court resolves a pending substantive lawsuit regarding the leadership conflict. The commission emphasized that the measure ensures regulatory neutrality while allowing the judiciary to determine lawful party structures. Under Nigerian electoral regulations, the commission interacts exclusively with legally validated party executives to maintain orderly political participation. Internal party divisions routinely trigger such administrative suspensions when multiple groups claim authority without final court validation.
The suspension remains a notable development for the ADC’s operational continuity and may influence broader opposition coalition strategies. Political analysts note that timely judicial resolution will be critical for the party’s administrative functions and candidate preparation ahead of future electoral cycles. All contending groups are expected to comply with INEC’s directive while awaiting the Federal High Court’s final determination.
