TDA leaked internal memo from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has thrown the African Democratic Congress (ADC) deeper into turmoil.
The document raised fundamental questions about the legitimacy of the party’s caretaker leadership headed by former Senate President David Mark.
The document, dated August 6, 2025, provides a detailed assessment of the processes that led to the formation of the caretaker committee and identifies multiple violations of the Electoral Act 2022.
Its emergence now, amid ADC’s escalating leadership crisis, has intensified scrutiny of the party’s internal governance and compliance with electoral law.
Key Findings from the Memo
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Failure to Notify INEC:
Joan Arabs, Deputy Director of INEC’s Election Party Monitoring Committee (EPMC), stated that ADC failed to provide the mandatory 21 days’ notice before convening the meeting that created the caretaker committee.
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Invalid Meeting:
Section 82(5) of the Electoral Act stipulates that failure to give such notice renders the exercise invalid.
Arabs noted that ADC only notified INEC of its July 29, 2025, NEC meeting, which merely ratified decisions already taken by the National Working Committee (NWC).
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Caretaker Committee Formed Outside NEC Authority:
The memo emphasizes that the caretaker committee was constituted by the NWC prior to NEC ratification.
It means that the original appointment lacked proper authority and notification.
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Missing Documentation:
ADC failed to submit specimen signatures of the caretaker chairman and secretary.
It did not also provide the official effective date for the committee, leaving INEC unable to formally recognize its leadership.
ADC’s Position
In its letters of July 29, 2025, ADC cited provisions in its 2022 constitution that empower a caretaker committee to exercise NEC powers pending ratification.
The party argued that its internal rules gave legitimacy to the caretaker structure.
However, INEC rejected this justification, stressing that compliance with the Electoral Act overrides internal party constitutions.
The commission’s stance underscores the supremacy of national electoral law over party-specific arrangements.
Broader Context
The memo has resurfaced at a critical moment.
ADC has been engulfed in a bitter leadership struggle, with rival factions challenging the authority of Mark’s caretaker committee in court.
In early April 2026, INEC removed Mark’s team from its official portal after a Court of Appeal issued a “status quo” order.
INEC insisted that the order effectively suspended recognition of the caretaker leadership.
The leaked document is now being cited by opponents of Mark’s faction as evidence that the caretaker committee was “invalid ab initio.”
It adds weight to claims that the leadership was improperly constituted and lacked legal standing from the outset.
Implications for 2027 Elections
The revelations carry serious consequences for ADC’s future.
Analysts warn that unless the party resolves its internal crisis and demonstrates compliance with electoral regulations, it risks being barred from fielding candidates in the 2027 general elections.
Such an outcome would severely weaken opposition forces and diminish ADC’s relevance in Nigeria’s political landscape.
The controversy also highlights broader issues of governance within Nigerian political parties, where internal disputes and procedural lapses often undermine credibility and electoral viability.
For INEC, the memo reinforces its role as a watchdog, ensuring that parties adhere strictly to the law in their internal processes.
Way Forward for ADC
INEC’s August 2025 memo is more than a bureaucratic document—it is a damning indictment of ADC’s leadership crisis.
By failing to comply with the clear requirements of the Electoral Act, the party has jeopardized its legitimacy and exposed itself to legal and political challenges.
For David Mark and his allies, the findings represent a major setback, casting doubt on their authority and intensifying the battle for control of the party.
For ADC as a whole, the message is clear: without strict adherence to electoral law, its ambitions for 2027 may collapse before they even reach the ballot.
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