ADC dismisses rumor of shake-up at the top affecting David Mark and Ralph Nwosu

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has categorically denied a report circulating online that Senator David Mark has relinquished his position as the party's national chairman, purportedly to pave the way for former chairman Ralph Nwosu to take the reins ahead of the party's national convention.

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This denial comes on the heels of an online publication that suggested Mark had stepped down due to internal conflicts and mounting pressure over the party's structure, particularly in the wake of recent actions taken by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

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The report had further alleged that Nwosu was being positioned to steer the party towards its national convention and stabilize its affairs in preparation for the 2027 general elections.

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However, the ADC has rejected this claim, maintaining that no such change in leadership has occurred, and that the report is entirely unfounded.

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In a tweet on Sunday, the party's National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, urged the public to disregard the report, describing it as "fake news" and encouraging people to flag and report such content on social media platforms.

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Abdullahi's tweet explicitly stated, "Please note that reports circulating about a change in the leadership of the ADC are #FakeNews, please disregard, flag, and report such content on any social media platform where you encounter it."

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This development comes just days after INEC removed the names of the party's National Working Committee (NWC) led by Mark from its official portal, citing a Court of Appeal judgment that directed parties involved in the leadership tussle to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the resolution of a substantive suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

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According to INEC, the appellate court's March 12, 2026 ruling instructed all parties to refrain from actions that could affect the outcome of the case and to preserve the existing structure prior to the dispute.

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The decision is a result of a prolonged leadership crisis within the ADC, with factions led by Nafiu Gombe and David Mark both laying claim to the party's national leadership.

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Despite INEC's position, the Mark-led NWC has rejected the commission's interpretation of the court ruling, and has called for the dissolution of the electoral body.

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The faction has also insisted that it will continue preparations for its planned national convention, which is scheduled to hold in Abuja on April 14, despite the ongoing leadership dispute remaining unresolved.