Hurdles before Mark, Aregbesola as party finally crosses the rubicon

By Luminous Jannamike

IN politics, designation is 1 thing; translation is another. For David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) determination to affirm their enactment of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is not the extremity of a conflict but the opening of a acold greater test.

With the 2027 elections inching closer, the question is nary longer who leads the ADC, it is whether this enactment tin unite, mobilise, and presumption the enactment arsenic a credible nationalist alternate earlier Nigerians instrumentality to the polls.

The Birth of a Battle

The ADC, erstwhile considered a fringe player, recovered itself thrust into nationalist prominence erstwhile absorption leaders sought a communal level earlier this year.

The statement looked elemental connected paper: a conjugation location nether the ADC, with respected elder statesmen specified arsenic David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola steering the ship.

Yet authorities seldom moves successful consecutive lines. Within days, the expected unity fractured. Old enactment faithful bristled astatine what they called a hijack. To them, the ADC was not a lifeboat for weary gladiators of different parties but a painstaking task built implicit 2 decades.

At At the centre of the tempest stood Nafiu Bala, the erstwhile Deputy National Chairman of ADC, who declared: “As it is now, I americium the authentic Ag National Chairman of the ADC, and I person since resumed the bureau (following Ralph Nwosu’s resignation arsenic National Chairman)

“They (coalition leaders) are not members of the ADC. If they privation to join, they should spell to their wards and get rank cards. Only past tin they beryllium recognized arsenic morganatic members.”

Contest of Legitimacy

The conflict soon moved into some the courts and the media. In Abuja, courtrooms became the signifier for deciding who genuinely led the ADC.

Nafiu Bala questioned the legitimacy of David Mark’s takeover, insisting that enactment rank rules and the constitution could not simply beryllium ignored.

Meanwhile, the Mark-led faction projected calm confidence, urging opponents to question redress successful tribunal portion it continued with conjugation building.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, countered Bala’s claims by pointing to his ain resignation letter, which had been shared with journalists.

The missive stated: “I, Nafiu Bala, bash hereby constitute to notify you of my resignation arsenic a subordinate of the National Working Committee of our large party, the African Democratic Congress, with effect from 26 May 2025. My resignation is to marque mode for a creaseless and effectual conjugation and restructuring. My resignation does not successful immoderate mode mean that I americium abandoning the party, truthful I would beryllium acceptable to service successful immoderate different capableness I whitethorn beryllium called upon successful the future.”

The contradiction raised caller questions. Was Bala a reluctant reformer oregon an aggrieved stakeholder trying to reclaim mislaid ground? Many Nigerians followed the play closely, sensing that this was much than conscionable an interior dispute.

INEC’s Gavel Falls

The turning constituent came connected Wednesday, erstwhile INEC updated its records to officially recognise David Mark arsenic National Chairman of the ADC and Rauf Aregbesola arsenic National Secretary.

In bureaucratic terms, it seemed routine. In governmental terms, it was a thunderclap.

Dumebi Kachikwu, the ADC’s 2023 statesmanlike campaigner and a beardown professional of the coalition, reacted sharply.

“Nigerians arsenic a full cognize that the David Mark-led faction of the ADC is connected borrowed time. What we saw from the INEC president yesterday was different irresponsible enactment from the outgoing president of INEC.

“It is simply a norm that erstwhile you person cases successful court, you respect those cases, and you shouldn’t bash thing that volition impact their outcomes. The courts are sitting connected our substance with David Mark and co adjacent month, and Nigerians volition spot the rulings aft the courts sit,” Kachikwu said.

His remarks stirred statement beyond enactment lines, raising wider questions astir the legitimacy and integrity of governmental enactment enactment transitions successful Nigeria, peculiarly erstwhile tribunal cases are inactive ongoing.

Ripples Across the Nation

The implications of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) determination are opening to unfold crossed Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

In the South-East, conjugation com...