Ballot Status Secured: David Mark’s Camp Declares ADC Primaries Untouched by Court of Appeal Ruling
Following the split Court of Appeal decision restraining INEC from recognizing congresses conducted by the Senator David Mark-led faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the party’s national leadership has declared that its 2027 election ticket remains fully intact.
Appearing on Arise News News Night, Chile Igbawua, the Special Adviser on Research and Strategy to David Mark, strongly rejected arguments that the legal blow nullified the party's candidates. He clarified that the litigation strictly concerned internal administrative party "congresses" (used to elect local and state officials) and has zero legal bearing on the "direct primaries" that produced the party's actual legislative, gubernatorial, and presidential candidates.
The Legal Counter-Argument: Why the Primaries Stand
Igbawua presented a robust technical defense, asserting that the rival state chairmen faction and external commentators are fundamentally confusing two different political procedures.
1. The Congress vs. Primary Distinction
Under the 2026 Electoral Act and the party’s updated constitution, the ADC bypassed the traditional "delegate system" entirely. Since no delegates were needed, the legal legitimacy of the state executive committee officials was completely irrelevant to candidate selection.
- Congresses: Strictly held to elect ward, local government, and state party executives.
- Primaries: Conducted via direct voting where all registered party members voted at the ward level to select candidates.
2. The Direct Primary Execution
Because the primaries were
conducted via direct voting, they were monitored directly by the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Igbawua revealed that
INEC has already issued the faction its official portal upload codes,
enabling them to begin submitting their candidates.
"We do not
need delegates. We went to the wards and elected our House of Assembly,
House of Representatives, Senate, Governor, and President. We were
actually the very first political party to successfully upload our
presidential candidate and running mate on the INEC portal." — Chile Igbawua
The
National Supremacy Mandate: Igbawua reiterated that under Nigerian
jurisprudence, political parties are only recognized by law at the
national level, not the state level. The national leadership, therefore,
holds ultimate authority over party administration, and they are highly
confident the Supreme Court will overturn the appellate court's
"faulty" interpretation.
Published by Qubes Magazine
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