The internal crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress escalated on Wednesday as a faction of the party led by former Senate President, David Mark, opened talks with a rival bloc of the Peoples Democratic Party headed by Kabiru Turaki in Abuja.
The high-level meeting comes amid widening leadership disputes within both opposition parties, fuelling speculations of possible political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The development coincided with a mass protest at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abuja, where prominent opposition figures staged a demonstration over alleged electoral bias.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi led a coalition of ADC leaders and supporters to the commission’s office, demanding redress over what they described as unfair treatment.
The protest also attracted key political heavyweights, including former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, ex-Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, former Kogi West senator Dino Melaye, and David Mark.
The aggrieved leaders accused INEC of tilting in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress, alleging that the electoral body was taking steps to frustrate the ADC’s participation in the 2027 polls.
However, INEC dismissed the claims, maintaining that its actions were guided strictly by extant laws and regulations.
Tensions within the ADC had heightened after the electoral commission reportedly delisted the names of David Mark as National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary from its official portal, a move that further deepened the leadership rift within the party.