Sokoto ADC Chairman Bello Isiyaku,Kigan Accuses INEC of Misinterpreting Court Orders and Sabotaging Party Leadership

Sokoto ADC Chairman Bello Isiyaku-Kigan defends David Mark’s leadership, accusing INEC of misinterpreting court orders and sabotaging the party's 2027 plans.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 6, 2026, 11:22 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Peoples Gazette

A Defense of Party Sovereignty

At a press conference held in Sokoto on Monday, April 6, 2026, Bello Isiyaku,Kigan, the state chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), issued a stern rebuttal to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He assured party members and the general public that the ADC leadership remains legally intact at both the state and national levels, despite recent moves by the electoral umpire to derecognize key chieftains, including interim chairman David Mark and secretary Rauf Aregbesola.

The "Status Quo" Legal Dispute

The crux of the disagreement stems from a leadership suit initiated by Nafi’u Bala. Isiyaku,Kigan argued that INEC has fundamentally misinterpreted a court ruling which directed all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending further hearings. He characterized INEC’s decision to delist the current executives as "wrong and mischievous," suggesting that any action implying the dissolution of the current leadership is an act of judicial overreach that ignores the court’s explicit instructions.

Concerns Over 2027 Election Sabotage

The timing of INEC’s intervention has raised alarms within the ADC's regional leadership. Isiyaku,Kigan noted that the derecognition comes as opposition parties are actively seeking to build coalitions and strengthen their platforms for the 2027 general elections. He described INEC's stance as a potential act of "sabotage" intended to create undue interference in the internal affairs of political parties, thereby weakening public confidence in the broader electoral process.