A document from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has uncovered key irregularities in the leadership structure of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under former Senate President David Mark.
The memo, dated August 6, 2025, detailed correspondence between the party and INEC regarding meetings that led to the formation of its caretaker committee. It included submissions such as the list of committee members, National Working Committee (NWC), zonal officers, and minutes from the party’s 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on July 29, 2025.
According to the document signed by Joan Arabs of the Election Party Monitoring Committee (EPMC), the ADC failed to provide the mandatory 21-day notice to INEC before holding the meeting that produced the caretaker committee. This omission, she noted, contravenes provisions of the Electoral Act and renders the process invalid.
The memo further revealed that while the party notified INEC of the NEC meeting that ratified the decisions, it did not inform the commission about the earlier meeting where those decisions were originally made.
Additionally, INEC pointed out that the ADC did not specify the effective date of the caretaker committee’s commencement and failed to submit specimen signatures of key officials, including the caretaker chairman and secretary.
Joan Arabs also questioned the legitimacy of the process, noting that the caretaker committee was not directly constituted by the NEC but rather ratified after the fact, without prior records submitted to the commission.
She recommended that INEC withhold recognition of the new leadership until the party provides complete documentation, including names, signatures, and a clear commencement date.
Overall, the memo raises serious concerns about procedural compliance and internal governance within the ADC’s current leadership structure.