INEC said its decision followed a recent Court of Appeal ruling and ongoing litigation over the party’s leadership structure. The commission added that it would not recognise congresses or conventions organised by the faction led by the two politicians pending determination of the substantive case before the Federal High Court.
Reacting, Mark accused the electoral body of undermining multi-party democracy and acting in contempt of court, insisting the ADC would proceed with its scheduled congresses beginning April 9. He also questioned why President Bola Tinubu would be “afraid of a free and fair contest,” despite the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) controlling a majority of governors and lawmakers nationwide.
Mark further demanded the resignation of INEC’s leadership, warning that the commission’s decision could affect the party’s participation in upcoming governorship elections in Osun State and Ekiti State later this year.
Security was tightened around INEC headquarters in Abuja as personnel from the military, police and other agencies were deployed to prevent possible clashes between rival protest groups following the announcement.
Opposition figures and organisations, including Peter Obi, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Afenifere, Middle Belt Forum, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), criticised the move, warning it could weaken opposition politics and erode confidence in the electoral process ahead of 2027.
INEC, however, rejected calls for the removal of its chairman, Joash Amupitan, describing such demands as unconstitutional and maintaining that its actions were guided by court orders and the rule of law. The commission also denied allegations of partisanship, noting that it had continued to expand the democratic space through the registration of additional political parties.
The APC defended the decision, with its National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka describing the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola as irregular and attributing the crisis to internal disputes within the ADC rather than external interference.
Similarly, the Presidency, through Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga, dismissed claims that the Federal Government was targeting opposition parties, urging ADC leaders to properly understand the legal meaning of “status quo ante bellum,” which informed INEC’s position.
In a separate reaction, Obi warned of what he described as a decline in democratic values, drawing comparisons between current political actors and those who opposed former military ruler Sani Abacha during Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggle.
The PDP also cautioned that recent developments could heighten political tension ahead of the 2027 elections and urged national institutions to remain neutral to preserve public confidence in the electoral system.