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The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has advised the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to commend the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for what he described as a timely decision to withdraw recognition of the party’s disputed leadership.
INEC had earlier announced that it would not recognise any faction within the party amid the ongoing leadership tussle.
Reacting via his X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday, Keyamo criticised a faction of the party linked to David Mark, accusing them of attempting to rely on sentiment rather than legal principles to resolve the crisis.
He stressed that legal matters are determined by facts, evidence, and proper interpretation of the law—not emotional appeals or political pressure.
According to him, the ongoing dispute over the party’s leadership, which is currently before the court, renders the question of INEC’s recognition of either faction largely inconsequential for now. He warned that if the case is not resolved before the deadline for candidate nominations, the party risks being unable to field candidates in upcoming elections.
Keyamo argued that instead of criticising INEC, the ADC should view the commission’s decision as a warning signal. He suggested that the party use the opportunity to either resolve its internal crisis quickly, seek a faster court ruling, or consider alternative political arrangements.
He further dismissed claims that external forces influenced the situation, insisting that neither INEC nor the ruling party played any role in the ADC’s internal challenges. He blamed the crisis on what he described as poor planning and lack of proper legal guidance by party members.
Despite the electoral body’s stance and an existing Court of Appeal ruling, Keyamo noted that the party appears determined to proceed with its planned congresses and convention. He concluded with a remark implying that political opponents should not be stopped from making strategic errors.