ADC Defies INEC, sets April dates for congress, convention

On Friday in Nigeria, the African Democratic Congress announced that it would proceed with its planned congresses and national convention despite the position of the Independent National Electoral Commission, which recently withdrew recognition from its leadership, as the party released a full timetable for the activities and maintained that the process would go on as scheduled.

The announcement was made through a notice issued by the party’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, who stated that the exercise would begin on April 7, 2026, with the screening of aspirants and continue through a series of stages before ending with the national convention on April 14, 2026.

The schedule includes appeals processes after each stage, covering ward, local government, and state congresses before the final gathering.

The party said it had already informed the electoral body of its plans through earlier communications sent in February and March, and it maintained that it would not halt its internal activities. This position comes shortly after the commission removed recognition from a faction of the party leadership linked to David Mark.

The disagreement between both sides has grown in recent days, with the party rejecting the commission’s decision and calling for the resignation of its chairman, Joash Amupitan. In response, the electoral body said its action was based on an ongoing court case and existing legal directives.

Amupitan had earlier warned that going ahead with congresses or a convention while court matters remain unresolved could lead to serious consequences, including the possibility of election victories being overturned if due process is not followed.

Despite the warning, the party has moved forward with its timetable, setting the stage for a continued dispute as both sides hold firmly to their positions.