The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has insisted on going ahead with its planned congresses and convention, despite the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, derecognizing its leadership.

In a notice released on Friday by its spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the congress is expected to last from April 7th to 14th, 2026.

The congress will commence with the screening of aspirants and then end with a national convention.

“This is to notify all party members that, despite INEC’s illegal actions, the African Democratic Congress will continue with its congresses as scheduled, having duly notified INEC by our letters dated 27th February 2026 and 28th March 2026.

“Screening of Aspirants—7th April 2026; Appeals on Screening Exercise—8th April 2026; Polling Unit, Ward, and Local Government Congresses – 9th April 2026; Appeals on the Congresses-10th April 2026; State Congresses-11th April 2026; Appeals on the State Congresses-12th April 2026 and Convention-14th2026; April 2026,” the notice reads.

This comes days after INEC delisted the party’s leadership under former Senate President David Mark.

The party has condemned the decision, calling for the resignation of the electoral body’s chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan.

However, Amupitan said the commission’s decision was based on a pending court case.

He cautioned ADC that if the party goes on with its congresses disregarding judicial directives, the move could ultimately invalidate any electoral victory secured by the party.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has warned the African Democratic Congress (ADC) against moving forward with plans to hold its congresses and convention.

The INEC Chairman warned that the electoral commission would not monitor such congresses and conventions based on the prevailing court order.

Speaking on Friday during an interview with Arise News, Amupitan submitted that any action taken by the ADC before the court delivers a ruling on the leadership crisis affecting the party amounts to an illegality.

He warned that if the ADC conducts primary elections, and its candidates win elections, the court can declare such elections invalid, and the implication is that the person with the second-highest number of votes will be declared the winner, just as it p

Naija News reports that the INEC Chairman gave the warning against the backdrop of the insistence by the David Mark-led faction of the ADC to proceed with its planned congresses and convention ahead of the 2027 elections even if the electoral umpire does not monitor such activities.

However, Amupitan warned that such actions come with consequences and urged the ADC to maintain the status quo pending a court ruling.

He said, “If they decide to go ahead, let me tell you what happened in Zamfara: it happened in the past. At the end of the day, after you have won, the court will declare the election invalid and the implication is that the person with the second-highest number of votes will be declared the winner. It’s happened in Plateau state.

“Failure to obey the court order has consequences. They are at liberty to do whatever they want to do, but INEC doesn’t want to face a situation again where there is an order not to do anything or take any steps. I have the judgment here, and I can read it to you, is very definite.

“So if I proceed for instance to monitor their convention, it means I am taking steps that is going to affect the subject matter that is pending before the court.”

The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has nothing to do with President Bola Tinubu, according to Hon Success Opara. Rather, the party’s inability to promote internal cohesion is the root cause of the problem.

The ADC has been embroiled in a bitter leadership dispute, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) withdrawing recognition of the party’s leadership headed by Senator David Mark and former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola. INEC cited a Court of Appeal ruling as the reason for its decision.

Hon Opara’s statement aligns with the position of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which has dismissed allegations that President Tinubu is behind the ADC’s crisis. The APC maintains that the crisis is self-inflicted and stems from internal disagreements within the party.

The ADC, however, has accused INEC of siding with the government and undermining the party’s leadership. The party has announced plans to proceed with its congresses and national convention despite INEC’s warning.