ADC crisis highlights weak internal dispute resolution in political parties — PAACA

Ezenwa Nwagwu

The Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA) has said the ongoing crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) highlights weak internal governance structures in political parties.

In a statement issued by its Executive Director, Ezenwa Nwagwu, PAACA said the crisis was largely due to the failure of the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms.

He said the inability of the party to manage its internal disagreements had escalated the matter unnecessarily, leading to public controversy and legal disputes.

The Centre cautioned that the current approach aimed at portraying INEC as biased and casting the Commission in a bad light is dangerous and should not be allowed.

Nwagwu said this approach is capable of eroding public trust in democratic institutions, even before the 2027 general elections.

According to him, the situation could have been avoided if the party had explored administrative channels to resolve the issues.

“There is no need for the ADC’s grandstanding. This is a matter that could have been settled administratively. The leadership could have approached INEC to resolve grey areas, while also initiating mediation within its ranks,” he said.

Nwagwu cited past disputes within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), noting that such issues were resolved through engagement with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“When the PDP had similar issues, they approached INEC and the matters were resolved. However, there is no evidence that the ADC leadership, led by David Mark, has met with INEC to resolve this matter.”

Nwagwu called on the ADC leadership to prioritise institutional engagement over public confrontation, stressing that the issues in contention could still be addressed through established administrative channels.

While noting that opposition parties often deploy strategies to attract public sympathy, Nwagwu however cautioned that any party seeking power must put in the hard work, demonstrate due diligence, internal discipline, and respect for due process.

“Opposition status is not a shield against scrutiny. Parties seeking power must demonstrate that they can manage their own affairs in line with due process. That means investing in internal governance, resolving disputes transparently, and engaging institutions constructively,” he said.

The PAACA boss said the development highlights the need for political parties to strengthen internal governance and adhere strictly to procedural frameworks in managing disputes.

“Time and again, we have observed that many political parties in Nigeria do not have robust mechanisms to resolve internal conflicts,” he said.

On INEC, Nwagwu said the situation has placed the electoral body in a delicate position that requires careful handling, particularly in terms of public communication and maintaining institutional neutrality.

He said, “For INEC, it is a tricky situation. INEC has a legal department, and the Commission is currently headed by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. When you have too many legal experts in the room, the challenge is that you may be dealing with a crisis of legal interpretation.”

The PAACA boss also called on civil society organisations and the media to remain objective, urging them to interrogate processes thoroughly rather than assume victimhood in political disputes.

He said, “The ADC is doing what any normal opposition would do anywhere in the world to the extent that it gains advantage and attracts sympathy. But as much as we criticise the ruling party, we must also scrutinise the opposition within the framework of due process.”

He argued that INEC did not initiate the dispute, stressing that the matter was taken to court by members of the ADC, resulting in orders the Commission is obligated to respect.