Following its ongoing leadership crisis, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of acting outside its legal boundaries.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made this allegation on Thursday, April 2, during an appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show.

New Telegraph reports that the dispute follows INEC’s decision to derecognise David Mark as the party’s National Chairman, alongside Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, and other officials.

INEC had explained that its action was based on a court directive ordering all parties to maintain the status quo pending the resolution of a suit filed by a factional Chairman, Nafiu Bala, who is contesting the legitimacy of the current leadership.

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Speaking on the development, Abdullahi argued that Bala no longer holds any official position within the party, insisting that his tenure ended following his resignation and the dissolution of the executive committee he belonged to.

He maintained that the party’s National Executive Committee had already taken binding decisions regarding its leadership structure, describing it as the highest decision-making body after the national convention.

Questioning INEC’s stance, Abdullahi accused the commission of recognising actions taken by Bala despite being aware of his resignation.

He also faulted INEC’s interpretation of the Court of Appeal’s directive to maintain the status quo, describing the commission’s conduct as unlawful.

“As of July 17, he was no longer an official of the party, and INEC knew this. So as I was saying, he has no locus.

“It is a settled matter in court that the issue of leadership is wholly an internal affair of political parties, and the NEC is the next most senior organ of the party, next to the convention.

“The NEC said that the executive that he belonged to, even if he said he did not resign, the executive that he belonged to has been duly dissolved.

“So, on what basis is INEC recognising Bala’s action? Because INEC knew since August 12 that they received a notice of his resignation, he is no longer an official of the party.

“So, on what basis is he being recognised? So recognising Nafiu Bala’s action means that INEC is taking a side.

“What INEC has done effectively is to violate the directive of the appeal court, and that is criminal.

“If you are talking about contempt, that is what INEC has done. INEC, today, is behaving like a criminal organisation. And what the Court of Appeal said is to maintain the status quo.”

INEC had earlier stated that it would not recognise any faction within the party, including Bala, pending the determination of a substantive case before the Federal High Court. The commission also removed the names of Mark and Aregbesola from its official portal as part of its response to the dispute.

The controversy continues to deepen divisions within the party as legal proceedings over its leadership remain unresolved.