All Progressives Congress Urges Electoral Commission to Formally Deregister African Democratic Congress Citing Lack of Viability

APC Secretary Ajibola Bashiru urges INEC to fully deregister the ADC, claiming the opposition party is a drain on national resources and lacks justification.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 4, 2026, 3:48 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Legit.ng

Rivalry Escalates Over Party Registration Status

The ruling All Progressives Congress has formally challenged the continued legal standing of the African Democratic Congress, calling for its total removal from Nigeria's political landscape. During a briefing at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, National Secretary Ajibola Bashiru argued that the embattled opposition group no longer serves a functional purpose in the democratic process. This demand marks a significant escalation in the tensions between the ruling party and smaller opposition entities as the electoral body reviews party compliance.

Critique of Electoral Commission’s Recent Actions

Bashiru specifically addressed the Independent National Electoral Commission, suggesting that their recent efforts to derecognize the leadership of the ADC did not go far enough. The ADC, which was reportedly being led by former Senate President David Mark, has been plagued by leadership disputes that have drawn the attention of regulators. The APC posited that rather than merely addressing internal leadership conflicts, the commission should exercise its power to strike the organization entirely from the list of registered political parties in the country.

Administrative Burden and Resource Management

A primary argument put forward by the APC leadership is the perceived strain that inactive or unstable parties place on the Nigerian state. Accompanied by National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka, Bashiru described the ADC as a significant drain on both national time and financial resources. The ruling party’s position is that the multiplicity of parties that cannot demonstrate consistent electoral viability or stable governance complicates the electoral process and dilutes the efficiency of democratic oversight.