ADC deregistered by INEC – Omokri blames party 'jumpers'
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has deregistered the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Nigerian ambassador to Mexico Reno Omokri says the party has only itself to blame. In a statement, Omokri called ADC “professional party jumpers,” arguing that the David Mark-led faction violated a March 12, 2026 Court of Appeal ruling by appealing instead of obeying it. He accused them of joining ADC for “business interests rather than democracy” and warned they “bought a faulty product.”
With elections approximately ten months away (around February 2027), Omokri bluntly states ADC lacks time to form a new party. Current members and candidates must either resolve internal disputes to regain INEC recognition or defect to existing parties before the polls. This deregistration removes ADC from the ballot, voiding its candidates’ filings and affecting voters registered under the party.
The episode underscores INEC’s enforcement of court rulings—a warning to other parties with internal legal battles. For Nigeria’s opposition, ADC’s collapse further fragments the anti-APC vote at a critical time. Could this galvanize remaining parties to merge or coordinate for 2027? Or does it simply strengthen the incumbent’s position? For individual politicians and supporters, the clock is ticking: choose a new political home or risk irrelevance.