Victor Umeh Blasts INEC Over ADC Leadership Crisis, Backs David Mark’s Court Battle

Fresh cracks have emerged within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as Senator Victor Umeh openly accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of interfering in the party’s internal affairs, deepening an already tense leadership dispute.

The controversy follows INEC’s decision to delist David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its official records as interim National Chairman and National Secretary of the ADC — a move that has sparked legal and political pushback.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Umeh defended the Mark-led leadership for heading to court, insisting their legal challenge was justified. He argued that the core issue lies in whether the Federal High Court had the authority to even hear the case in the first place.

According to the Anambra Central lawmaker, once jurisdiction is questioned, it becomes the court’s primary responsibility to resolve it before proceeding. Any ruling made without proper jurisdiction, he stressed, would be legally void regardless of how well the case was handled.

Umeh maintained that the decision by Justice Nwite to assume jurisdiction was rightly contested by Mark’s camp. He added that the appeal process was necessary to address what he described as a fundamental legal flaw in the proceedings.

The senator also questioned the prolonged handling of the case, suggesting that higher courts should have quickly identified whether the matter fell outside judicial authority. He argued that disputes over party leadership are internal issues that courts — including appellate courts — may lack jurisdiction to adjudicate.

INEC, however, has defended its actions. The electoral body said the removal of Mark and Aregbesola from its records was in compliance with a court directive ordering it to maintain the status quo until the case is fully resolved at the trial level.

The decision, announced by National Commissioner Mohammed Kudu, has further intensified the leadership crisis within the ADC, raising broader concerns about party stability and the role of electoral authorities in internal political disputes.