The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) escalated yesterday as a faction of the party led by its National Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe, asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove Senator David Mark and members of his National Working Committee (NWC) from its portal.

The faction claimed a court judgment had withdrawn recognition from the David Mark-led NWC and invalidated all its decisions, urging INEC to recognise only what it described as the authentic leadership under Gombe.

In a statement, Gombe also issued a seven-day ultimatum to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, asking him to stop presenting himself as the ADC’s 2027 presidential candidate and apologise publicly to party members and stakeholders for what it described as unauthorised statements made in the party’s name.

“INEC is further requested to upload and recognise only the authentic members of the National Working Committee of the ADC, in strict compliance with the judgment of the Court. The said judgment directed INEC to withdraw recognition from the David Mark-led NWC and further invalidates all decisions, resolutions, and actions taken by that Committee.

“In addition, the leadership of the African Democratic Congress hereby issues a formal and final warning to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to desist, with immediate effect, from parading himself as the Presidential Candidate of the ADC. We reiterate our earlier position that His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, is not and has never been the Presidential Candidate of the ADC for the 2027 General Elections.

“We urge Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to refrain forthwith from using the Party’s name, logo, and emblem in spreading falsehoods and misinformation about the African Democratic Congress.

“We also give him a seven-day ultimatum to come out and tender a public apology to the members and stakeholders of the ADC for making unauthorized statements on behalf of the Party. Failure to comply with the above demand within the stipulated period, we shall seek appropriate legal redress.

“We urge the relevant security agencies to cause his immediate arrest and prosecution for the dissemination of false information capable of misleading the public and inciting public disturbance, thereby threatening the relative peace we currently enjoy.” (The Sun)