ADC Insists on Congresses Despite INEC Derecognition

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said it will proceed with its planned congresses and national convention despite the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) derecognising its leadership.

In a notice issued on Friday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the exercise is scheduled to run from April 7 to April 14, 2026.

According to the timetable, the process will begin with the screening of aspirants and conclude with a national convention.

“This is to notify all party members that, despite INEC’s illegal actions, the African Democratic Congress will continue with its congresses as scheduled, having duly notified INEC by our letters dated February 27, 2026, and March 28, 2026,” the statement read.

The party outlined the schedule as follows: screening of aspirants on April 7; appeals on screening on April 8; polling unit, ward and local government congresses on April 9; appeals on the congresses on April 10; state congresses on April 11; appeals on the state congresses on April 12; and the national convention on April 14.

The development comes days after INEC removed the leadership of the party led by David Mark from its official records.

The ADC has condemned the move and called for the resignation of the electoral body’s chairman, Joash Ojo Amupitan.

However, Amupitan maintained that the commission’s decision was based on a pending court case, warning that proceeding with the congresses in defiance of judicial directives could invalidate any electoral victories secured by the party.