The All Progressives Congress (APC) has backed the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw recognition from factions of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), attributing the crisis to internal leadership disputes.
INEC had earlier announced that it would no longer recognise or engage with the rival factions of the party led by David Mark and Nafiu Bala Gombe. The commission explained that its decision followed a review of a Court of Appeal ruling and that it would maintain the current situation pending a final judgment from a Federal High Court.
As part of the move, INEC removed the names of executives aligned with Mark from its official portal, a step that sparked strong reactions from members of that faction.
Reacting to the development, APC spokesperson Felix Morka described the situation as self-inflicted, dismissing claims that the ruling party played any role in the ADC’s internal conflict.
“INEC decision to de-recognise the David Mark executive was utterly self-inflicted. APC didn’t do that. You orchestrate the hijack of the ADC by that executive. We didn’t. They did,” Morka said.
He further accused the Mark-led leadership of disregarding the party’s constitutional procedures in taking control.
“You come in with your parachutes; you take over the party without reference to the constitutional stipulation about succession and how leadership is ordered in that party. This is the consequence,” he added.
Meanwhile, the faction loyal to Mark has rejected INEC’s stance, alleging that the electoral body acted under external influence.
