April 6, 2026
A recent document from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has highlighted critical flaws in the leadership structure of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by former Senate President David Mark.
The memo, dated August 6, 2025, addresses a communication between ADC and INEC concerning the meetings that established the party’s caretaker committee. It included lists of the caretaker committee, the National Working Committee (NWC), zonal officers, and minutes from ADC’s 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on July 29, 2025.
According to Joan Arabs, Deputy Director of the Election Party Monitoring Committee (EPMC), ADC failed to provide the mandatory 21 days’ notice to INEC before the meeting that formed the caretaker committee and did not submit records of the meeting. Arabs noted that this violation of Section 82(5) of the Electoral Act renders the meeting invalid.
The memo emphasized that Section 82(1) requires political parties to notify INEC at least 21 days in advance of any convention, congress, or meeting intended for electing executive committees or nominating candidates. ADC only submitted notice of the NEC meeting on July 29, which ratified decisions already made by the NWC, but did not notify INEC of the original NWC meeting where the caretaker committee was constituted.
Arabs also pointed out that ADC failed to provide specimen signatures of the caretaker chairman and secretary, and recommended that INEC await the submission of these documents and the official effective date for the caretaker committee.
ADC’s letters of July 29, 2025, referenced provisions of the party’s 2022 constitution that empower a caretaker committee to exercise NEC powers pending ratification. However, Arabs observed that the NEC’s ratification on July 29 did not constitute the original appointment of the caretaker committee, meaning the committee was formed outside NEC’s authority and lacked proper notification to INEC.
In conclusion, INEC’s memo raises questions about the legitimacy of ADC’s current leadership structure and underscores the need for compliance with electoral regulations.
