The faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former party members has said the candidacy of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other candidates presented by the David Mark-led faction remains uncertain as the party awaits a final resolution of its leadership dispute.
The faction’s leader, Alhaji Mohammed Bashir Abdulqadir, disclosed this in an interview with Siyasarmu TV, saying they had completed preparations to submit the names of their preferred candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Mohammed Bashir Abdulqadir said previous court rulings had strengthened his faction’s position in the leadership dispute. He added that they were awaiting the Supreme Court’s final decision before proceeding with the proposed replacement of candidates’ names, claiming that INEC had informed them it was waiting for the court’s ruling on the matter.
The development follows a statement dated September 29, 2026, issued by the faction of ADC state chairmen and state executive committees, urging INEC to implement court judgments concerning state congresses and the national convention organised by the David Mark-led faction.
In the statement, the faction said the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled on April 29, 2026, restraining INEC from recognising or participating in state congresses organised by committees appointed by David Mark’s interim leadership. It further stated that the Abuja Court of Appeal upheld the ruling on July 13, 2026, and imposed a fine of ₦10 million on the party.
The state chairmen’s faction also alleged that the David Mark-led leadership had exceeded the legally prescribed time limit for pursuing an appeal at the Supreme Court because certain legal procedures were not completed within the stipulated period. On that basis, the faction maintained that the two court rulings remained valid and urged INEC not to recognise candidates or delegates emerging from the congresses it considers invalid.
However, the claim that the appeal had become time-barred requires confirmation from relevant court records or a formal ruling clarifying the current status of the case at the Supreme Court.
In a separate allegation, Mohammed Bashir Abdulqadir claimed that Atiku Abubakar and supporters of the David Mark-led leadership joined the ADC while the leadership dispute was already before the courts. He further alleged that the subsequent emergence of a new leadership under the David Mark faction violated the party’s constitution.
He added that his faction had a large number of aspirants seeking to contest elections under the ADC and was prepared to submit their names to INEC if the opportunity arose. He urged party members to remain patient, expressing confidence that his faction would prevail based on the court rulings he cited.
The ADC leadership dispute continues to raise questions about the party’s recognised leadership and its procedures for presenting candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections. The final status of the court proceedings and INEC’s subsequent actions are expected to play a significant role in determining how the dispute is resolved.