The All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the Senator David Mark-led faction of African Democratic Congress (ADC), accusing the group of peddling “puerile propaganda” and engaging in “illegality” over its ongoing internal leadership crisis.
In a press conference addressed by the APC on April 3, 2026, the ruling party dismissed allegations that President Bola Tinubu is deliberately weakening opposition parties to force a one-party state ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The APC’s response follows an April 2 press conference by the David Mark faction, which accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of partisanship and unlawful withdrawal of recognition.
The ADC faction had also called for the removal of the INEC Chairman and commissioners, warning of a looming threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
A Self-Inflicted Crisis
APC described the ADC’s predicament as a self-inflicted crisis resulting from an
“untidy” hijack of the party’s leadership, while clarified that the current situation stems from a court litigation before the Federal High Court and an adverse judgment by the Court of Appeal.
According to the APC, the Court of Appeal dismissed an interlocutory appeal filed by the David Mark faction, noting that it was premature and procedurally flawed. 
The appellate court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum and awarded a cost of N2,000,000 against the faction.
“It is the above orders of the court that are being put into effect by INEC, and we are at a loss as to the basis for allegation that President Bola Tinubu is weakening opposition in the circumstances,” the party stated.
“Where does President Tinubu feature in their predicament, if not outright fallacious and malicious propaganda?”
Defiance of the Rule of Law
The APC expressed concern over the ADC faction’s insistence on proceeding with its planned congresses, convention despite the ongoing litigation and the Court of Appeal’s explicit orders to maintain the status quo.
The party warned that such defiance amounts to “recklessness and a clear display of irresponsibility,” adding that it signals a troubling disregard for institutions and due process.
“The public should therefore be aware that the defiant actions being pursued by the David Mark-led factional leadership of the ADC amount to illegality,” the APC warned.
“When those actions are eventually declared null and void by the courts, it would be disingenuous to blame Tinubu and the ruling party for consequences of their own disregard for the rule of law.”
“Look Inward and Stop Finger Pointing”
Dismissing the ADC faction’s claim to being a formidable opposition coalition, the APC highlighted the party’s “abysmal and unconvincing” performance at the polls, including the recent Local Govt Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory.
The ruling party advised the ADC to look inward and resolve its internal crises rather than.pointing fingers at external forces.
It recalled how the APC itself lost all its electoral victories in Zamfara State due to unresolved internal conflicts, noting that the party accepted the outcome as the rule of law taking its course without resorting to conspiracy theories.
“No amount of external finger-pointing can erase their consistent failures or resolve their lingering leadership issues,” the party concluded. “It’s wishful thinking to assume that other political parties will step in to rescue them from problems they have repeatedly failed to manage.
