ADC debunks report that INEC rejected recognition of new leadership
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has debunked reports claiming that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) refused to recognise the party’s new leadership.
Bolaji Abdullahi, interim National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, dismissed the reports as false on his official X handle on Wednesday, stating that INEC had not rejected the leadership of Senator David Mark and other newly appointed interim leaders of the party.
Calling on the public to disregard the story, Abdullahi said:
“The attention of ADC has been drawn to a story circulating that the @inecnigeria has refused to recognise the new leadership of our party under the Distinguished Senator David Mark.
“This story is entirely false and should be ignored. We urge Nigerian people to ignore such misleading reports from any quarters and stay focused on mobilising the long-suffering people of Nigeria for the great task to save our dear country,” Abdullahi wrote on X.
The clarification comes after the emergence of conflicting narratives surrounding the ADC’s recent leadership change.
It had gone viral that INEC refused to recognise the party’s newly constituted caretaker committee, while state chairmen denounced the David Mark-led group as an illegitimate coalition attempting to hijack the party.
There were also reports that INEC had yet to upload Senator David Mark and his interim team to its official portal, signalling non-recognition of the leadership change.
Mark, who was unveiled as interim chairman during the launch of the ADC-led coalition on July 2, was formally sworn in on Tuesday at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja.
Former Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, was also confirmed as caretaker National Secretary.
Mark’s appointment was part of a broader effort to form a national coalition that could serve as a credible alternative to the dominant political parties.
The leadership transition came amid internal disputes and calls for reform within the party.
