The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is seeing a massive boost in membership, with over 500,000 Nigerians joining the party in just a few days.
This comes after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) removed the names of ADC leaders from its official records, a move many Nigeria’s legal experts says the electoral body misinterprets court ruling.
The party’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, shared on X that between 7:00 PM on April 1st, when INEC released its statement, and 5:00 PM today, more than half a million Nigerians across the country registered as new members. He described the growth as a sign of increasing public support and trust in the ADC.
The controversy started when INEC acted on a Court of Appeal directive, which required the party to maintain the status quo while its internal leadership dispute was resolved. ADC officials insist that INEC overstepped its role, as the court order never gave the commission authority to strip the party of recognition. Instead, the party says, the order meant the leadership structure should remain as it was until the final court decision.
Despite the legal and political tension, ADC leaders have confirmed that the party’s national convention will go ahead on April 14 as planned. They say the convention is crucial for reaffirming the party’s leadership, discussing strategies, and consolidating the growing membership surge.
The ADC sees the combination of rising membership and the upcoming convention as a sign of resilience and growing momentum, even amid a controversial decision by the electoral commission.
