By Badagry Today The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to officially recognize former Senate President, Senator David...
By Badagry Today
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to officially recognize former Senate President, Senator David Mark, and former Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, as the interim National Chairman and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), weeks after their appointments by the party.
A check on INEC’s official portal by Badagry Today on Sunday, August 3rd, 2025, still listed Chief Ralph Oke Nwosu and Alhaji Said Baba Abdullahi as the substantive chairman and secretary of the party respectively. This comes despite the ADC publicly announcing a major leadership shake-up on July 1st, appointing Mark and Aregbesola to steer the party in its new national direction.
Even more puzzling to observers is the speed with which INEC updated the details of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), after its own leadership change. Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, who was named APC National Chairman on July 24th, had his position reflected on the electoral commission’s website within days.
This disparity is already raising questions about INEC’s neutrality and commitment to fairness as the country inches closer to the 2027 general elections.
The ADC, once considered a fringe party, has recently found new life after becoming the adopted political platform of a powerful opposition coalition. The alliance, led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, includes political heavyweights like Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, Mr. Peter Obi, and other former governors and ex-presidential aspirants who appear determined to present a united front against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC in the next elections.
The appointment of David Mark and Aregbesola, both experienced politicians with national reach, was seen as a strategic move to give the ADC credibility and leadership strength ahead of this challenge. But with INEC yet to reflect this shift, many are wondering: Is this delay mere bureaucracy, or is something deeper at play?
A senior ADC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the party had followed all due processes in notifying INEC of its leadership changes.
“We sent all the required documents to INEC immediately after the appointments. This delay is unusual and suspicious, especially when you see how fast APC’s update was done,” the official said.
What’s INEC Waiting For?
So far, INEC has remained silent on why it has not recognized the new ADC leadership. There has been no official statement or explanation, even as pressure mounts from political observers and party members.
With the opposition gearing up to present a formidable challenge in 2027, many Nigerians are watching closely how institutions like INEC behave. For now, the silence is loud—and the political stakes are high.
As 2027 approaches, and with the oppositions still nursing wounds from the controversial 2023 polls, the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic institutions is on trial. INEC’s impartiality is key to ensuring a level playing field for all political parties.
The question now is: Will INEC rise above politics—or allow perception of bias to define its legacy once again?
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