ADC Leadership Crisis Driven by Internal Legal Disputes

The leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is rooted in internal legal disputes, according to lawyers Inibeh Effiong and Bodund Opeyemi. They discussed the situation during an interview in Abuja, highlighting that the crisis intensified after a party meeting in July 2025, which resulted in challenges against the outcomes of the Federal High Court.

The court declined to grant an interim order to restrain new leadership recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Effiong criticized the legal strategy adopted by the faction led by David Mark, describing procedural flaws and clarifying that the Federal High Court did not issue a restraining order but directed parties to maintain the status quo.

Opeyemi emphasized that INEC's decision not to recognize the faction aligns with court orders, warning that any contrary action would violate judicial directives. Legal experts concluded that the ADC crisis stems from internal disagreements rather than external interference, indicating that the impasse may persist until the Federal High Court delivers a final judgment.