The leadership dispute within the (ADC) has taken a sharper turn following strong remarks from former minister .

“Nafiu Gombe resigned on May 17, and the NEC meeting that produced David Mark was on July 29. So Gombe went to Court on September 2, so the status quo ante bellum was supposed to be before September 2 of which there was a leadership.

If we agree without conceding that, INEC's interpretation of status quo was to be before the NEC meeting, Ralph Nwosu would have been the Chairman, because at no time was the ADC without a leadership, the Court never envisaged that.

At this point, INEC is behaving like a criminal organisation and Amupitan is the chief criminal.”

— Bolaji Abdullahi, Ex-Sports Minister

Breaking Down the Timeline

Abdullahi outlined a sequence of events central to the dispute:

• May 17: reportedly resigns

• July 29: A National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting produces as part of a new leadership structure

• September 2: A court case is filed, introducing legal complexity into the leadership question

At the heart of the argument is the legal concept of status quo ante bellum—a return to the state of affairs before the dispute escalated.

The Core Dispute

Abdullahi argues that:

• The ADC always had a leadership structure, regardless of internal changes

• Even under INEC’s interpretation, leadership should revert to

• The court’s intention was not to leave the party without recognized leadership

Clash With INEC

The remarks also sharply criticize the (INEC), accusing it of misinterpreting the court’s directive and mishandling the situation.

Such strong language underscores the growing tension between political actors and the electoral body over party leadership recognition.

Legal and Political Implications

This dispute raises key questions:

• How should court rulings on party leadership be interpreted?

• What constitutes the legitimate leadership during ongoing legal battles?

• What role should INEC play in internal party conflicts?

What to Watch

As the situation unfolds, attention will be on:

• Possible court clarifications or rulings

• Official responses from INEC

• The ADC’s next internal moves

For now, the crisis highlights the complex intersection of law, politics, and party administration in Nigeria’s democratic process.