THE reason has emerged why the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to accord recognition to the interim National Working Committee of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President, Senator David Mark.

Investigations revealed that the erstwhile National Chairman of the party, Ralph Nwosu, in a letter dated July 29, 2025, and addressed to INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, informed him of resolutions of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ADC held on the same date, “which empowers NEC to exercise the powers and perform all the functions of the National Convention pending the next National Convention.”

The NEC at that meeting effected changes in its leadership and informed the INEC so.

The letter to INEC, it was learnt, listed the names of 44 new national officers of the party. Listed among them by Ralph Nwosu were Senator David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, and Dr Mani Ibrahim, as National Chairman, National Secretary and National Treasurer, respectively.

Checks by Saturday Ekwutos on the INEC website, however, revealed that the commission still lists Ralph Nwosu, Alhaji Sai’d Baba Abdullahi and Mr Cavin Alagoa as National Chairman, National Secretary, and National Treasurer of the ADC, respectively. The website also lists Mrs Ifeyinwa Ntima as National Financial Secretary.

A source within INEC who spoke with Saturday Tribune in confidence explained why the electoral umpire was yet to accord official recognition to the David Mark-led interim leadership despite the formal notification by the party.

The source, who acknowledged receipt of the letter written by Ralph Okey Nwosu and Alhaji Sai’d Baba Abdullahi,  the immediate past National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively, noted that the commission was yet to recognise Senator Mark and Aregbesola as the new National Chairman and Secretary because the letter dated July 29, 2025, was not properly written.

The source said: “The letter only listed 44 names of new national officers without their signatures. It is proper that we have in our custody specimens of their signatures. That’s when we would act on their letter.”

Asked if the commission was reluctant to accept the new leadership due to the ongoing tussle within the party, the INEC source dismissed the insinuation.

“No, we have nothing against the process. In fact, we were present and monitored the process where those resolutions were taken,” the source added.

A founding member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Osita Okechukwu, on Friday, disclosed how the late former President Muhammadu Buhari “rose to his feet” to fight against former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s third term agenda and ensured one-party state in Nigeria.

Okechukwu said Buhari held strategic meetings with the then-National Assembly members and ensured that they did not allow the third term plot to stand.

He said the late former President reinforced and made former Senate President Ken Nnamani and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Masari to appreciate the support of greatest number of Nigerians, thereby, ending one-party state despite the N50 million alleged handout to each member of the National Assembly.

In a statement he signed, the former Director General of the Voice of Nigeria, VON, said “it is rare for one to escape the ugly cacophony of voices emanating more from eminent patriots, who are bemoaning our dangerous slide into one-party-state.”

The statement reads partly: “In this era (1999-2007), Chief Olusegun as president nearly subverted our fledgling democracy.

“Accordingly, we start first by delving into why Buhari’s incarnate is imperative at this point in time, and how Buhari halted one-party state when it was stoked in the 2000s.

“It is with nostalgia that one remembers how Buhari rose to his feet when news filtered out that Obasanjo was allegedly plotting for 3rd Term, in 2006.

“Buhari’s steadfast opposition, strategic meetings with National Assembly members, ensured that National Assembly did not allow the 3rd Term plot to stand.

“He reinforced and made Ken Nnamani and Aminu Masari, to appreciate the support of greatest number of Nigerians.

“This is the death kneel of One-Party State, inspite of N50 million handout allegedly doled out to each member of the National Assembly.

“This brief cursory analysis is how Buhari utilized his arsenal and halted the institutionalisation of One-Party State.”

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Former presidential candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dumebi Kachikwu has claimed that former President Goodluck Jonathan offered ex-Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, a slot of Coordinating Minister of the Economy, if he withdraws from the 2027 race to support him.