ADC Leadership Crisis Deepens as David Mark-Led NWC Protests at Abuja Court Over Opposition “Suppression”

Tension surrounding the leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress escalated on Monday after members of the party’s National Working Committee loyal to David Mark staged a protest at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The demonstrators accused unnamed forces of attempting to weaken opposition politics in Nigeria through the judiciary, warning the court against being used to destabilise the party ahead of critical political activities.

Carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs outside the court premises, the protesters claimed that the legal battle involving the ADC leadership was part of a deliberate attempt to distract and cripple the opposition platform.

At the centre of the dispute is an ongoing leadership tussle between the David Mark-led faction of the party and another faction associated with party chieftain Nafiu Bala.

The protesters specifically pointed to the lawsuit filed by Bala, insisting that the case was politically motivated and designed to frustrate the current leadership structure of the party.

The crisis took a dramatic turn earlier this year after the Supreme Court of Nigeria nullified an earlier judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja which had directed parties in the dispute to maintain the status quo ante bellum.

That Appeal Court decision had reportedly influenced the position of Independent National Electoral Commission, which subsequently withdrew recognition of the David Mark-led leadership of the ADC.

However, in a unanimous judgment delivered by a five-member panel, the apex court ordered all parties involved in the matter to return to the Federal High Court for an accelerated hearing of the substantive suit filed by Nafiu Bala.

Monday’s protest reflects growing anxiety within opposition circles over the future of the party, especially as political alignments and preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections continue to intensify across the country.

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