The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially recognised the new National Working Committee (NWC) of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), with former Senate President David Mark listed as the party’s national chairman.

INEC published the updated leadership structure on its website, confirming the interim team appointed in July after opposition politicians and ADC leaders adopted the party as a coalition platform ahead of the 2027 elections.

Alongside Mark, former Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola was named interim secretary, while Bolaji Abdullahi, a former Minister of Sports, was appointed spokesperson. Other members were also assigned to NWC positions.

The coalition platform has drawn in prominent figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Uche Secondus, ex-PDP chairman; Nasir el-Rufai, former Kaduna governor; Peter Obi, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate; Rotimi Amaechi, former Minister of Transportation; and Odigie Oyegun, former APC chairman.

The shake-up followed the July 2 resignation of the previous NWC, announced by ADC founder Ralph Nwosu, who endorsed the interim leadership led by Mark.

However, the transition has not been without resistance. Nafiu Bala, a former ADC governorship candidate in Gombe, declared himself the party’s national chairman, while a group known as the Concerned State Chairmen of the ADC rejected the coalition arrangement, accusing its promoters of attempting a “hijack.” The group urged coalition members to establish a new party instead, insisting that “the ADC is not for sale.”