The All Progressives Congress (APC) has supported the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw recognition from factions of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), blaming the crisis on the party’s leadership under former Senate President David Mark.
INEC had earlier announced that it would no longer recognise or engage with either of the rival ADC factions led by Mark and Nafiu Bala Gombe.
The electoral body said the move followed a review of a recent Court of Appeal ruling and that it would maintain the status quo pending a final decision by a Federal High Court.
The decision also included removing the names of the Mark-led executives from its official portal, a step that triggered strong reactions from members of that faction.
Reacting, APC spokesperson Felix Morka said the situation was self-inflicted and denied any involvement by the ruling party in the ADC’s internal crisis.
“INEC decision to de-recognise the David Mark executive was utterly self-inflicted. APC didn’t do that. You orchestrate the hijack of the ADC by that executive. We didn’t. They did,” Morka said.
He further accused the Mark-led leadership of ignoring the party’s constitution in assuming control.
“You come in with your parachutes; you take over the party without reference to the constitutional stipulation about succession and how leadership is ordered in that party. This is the consequence,” he added.
The ADC faction loyal to Mark has, however, rejected INEC’s position, accusing the commission of acting under external pressure.
