ADC Risks Unlawful Organisation Tag, Olurode Warns
A former National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Lai Olurode, has cautioned the African Democratic Congress (ADC) against proceeding with its planned national convention without securing the explicit endorsement of the electoral body.
Speaking on the legal and political implications of the party’s proposed course of action, Olurode said INEC’s presence as an observer remains mandatory for any party convention to be considered legitimate.
“It would be imprudent for the ADC to go ahead with its convention without INEC’s endorsement,” Olurode said. “For legality to be conferred on the convention, INEC’s presence as an observer is mandatory.”
The ADC had declared its intention to proceed with its congresses and national convention following its derecognition by INEC. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, while speaking on Arise TV, said the party would not halt its activities, insisting that due process had been followed.
INEC had announced on April 1, 2026, that it would no longer recognise the David Mark-led National Working Committee of the ADC, following a review of a Court of Appeal judgment. The commission also stated it would not monitor the party’s national convention scheduled for April 14, 2026, and would maintain the status quo in the leadership crisis pending the determination of a suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Olurode, however, emphasised that political parties are creations of the state and the Constitution, and therefore require INEC’s recognition of their leadership.
“The ADC cannot unilaterally confer legality on itself or act outside regulatory frameworks without risking sanctions or being labelled an unlawful organisation by the state,” he warned.
The former INEC commissioner noted that ADC leaders, having previously held high positions in government, are capable of resolving internal disputes quickly and should avoid actions that could undermine the party’s public image.
“The ADC is being perceived by some as a legitimate political party under siege by the state,” Olurode said. “There is a tendency to whip up sympathy for the underdog, but the state must avoid appearing to persecute the opposition.”
He also highlighted the risks associated with oppositional politics in Nigeria, noting that the judiciary and even INEC are often perceived as extensions of the state.
“The sphere of freedoms conceded to state organs is sometimes seen as academic rather than substantive,” Olurode said. “The ADC must understand that oppositional politics is risky and can be challenging. Certainly, it is not a walk in the park, but as Shakespeare said, ‘sweet are the uses of adversity.’”
Olurode urged the government and its institutions to maintain openness and political competitiveness, warning against overreaction.
“No governing political party can be luckier than the current political configuration on the ground,” he said. “The state should not kill a fly with a sledgehammer.”
The ADC has faced a leadership crisis since July 2025, following Mark’s emergence as head of a new National Working Committee, with disagreements over the transition sparking internal opposition and multiple court cases. The party has demanded the immediate removal of INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan, a call the commission has dismissed as unconstitutional and a threat to its independence.