The Ondo State chapter of the African Democratic Congress has suspended its planned ward, local government and state congresses in compliance with a directive from the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The development was announced in a statement issued on Wednesday by the state chairman of the party, Wole Ademoyegun.
According to the statement, the decision followed INEC’s instruction to political parties to maintain the status quo pending the resolution of ongoing issues affecting the party.
The party said the suspension takes immediate effect and applies to all previously scheduled congresses across the state.
It reaffirmed its respect for INEC as the regulatory authority overseeing political parties and pledged adherence to due process and institutional guidelines.
The statement urged members and stakeholders to remain calm, united and law-abiding during the period, warning against actions that could violate the directive or disrupt internal peace.
The party also cautioned against unauthorised gatherings, noting that security agencies had been alerted to forestall any activities capable of causing unrest within its ranks.
Reiterating its commitment to democratic principles and internal cohesion, the ADC assured members that further updates would be communicated in line with directives from appropriate authorities.
The development comes amid ongoing internal disputes within the party and a recent move by INEC to delist some national figures, including David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola, in compliance with a court order directing the commission to maintain the status quo.
The party has also grappled with leadership disagreements, particularly over the tenure of its former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, which ended in August 2022.
Despite the crisis, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, recently affirmed that the ADC would participate in the 2027 general elections.
