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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it will remove the names of Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, as National Chairman and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), from its official portal as the ongoing leadership dispute in the party intensifies.
The Commission also stated that it will not recognise the Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, who had approached the court seeking to be declared national chairman of the party.
INEC said its decision was taken in response to the ongoing leadership dispute within the ADC and a recent judgment of the Court of Appeal in Suit No. CA/ABJ/145/2026, stressing that it would also suspend monitoring of any party conventions or congresses organised by the affected factions until the substantive matter is determined by the Federal High Court.
In a statement on Wednesday by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mallam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the Commission reaffirmed its commitment to neutrality, stating that it remained unwaveringly impartial and unbiased in the discharge of its duties.
INEC also urged political actors to avoid actions that could disrupt preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The Commission explained that while it declined a request from Gombe’s legal team seeking immediate recognition of his claim to the party leadership, it would ensure that the matter is heard expeditiously in court.
According to INEC, it received a letter dated 16th March 2026 from the law firm of Suleiman Usman SAN & Co., titled:
“Re: Notice of Pending Proceedings before the Federal Highway Court and Caution against any Purported Recognition of Mr Nafiu Bala Gombe as Acting National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress ADC”.
The Commission also said it received a “Demand for Enforcement” from Summit Law Chambers, acting for Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe. The letter asked INEC to:
“Stop recognising Senator David Mark or and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as the National Chairman and National Secretary of African Democratic Congress ADC, remove their names from INEC Website and refrain from receiving any correspondences from them or attending any of their meetings, congress or convention ordered or authorised by them.”
INEC said the demand followed the Court of Appeal’s dismissal of Senator David Mark’s interlocutory appeal, alongside the issuance of preservatory orders meant to maintain judicial balance while the case remains before the trial court.
The appellate court, INEC noted, stressed the need to preserve the subject matter of the dispute, stating the following:
“Finally, it is necessary to make preservatory orders to ensure that the subject matter of the dispute pending before the trial court is not prejudiced as Courts have inherent powers to control and regulate proceedings to ensure justice… IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AS FOLLOWS: That the parties are hereby directed to maintain the status quo ante bellum and shall refrain from taking any step or doing any act capable of foisting a fait accompli on the court or otherwise rendering nugatory the proceedings before the trial court.”
INEC further detailed the background of the crisis, noting that the David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) claimed legitimacy following the resignation of the Ralph Okey Nwosu-led executive in July 2025.
However, Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, who described himself as the only serving National Vice Chairman, disputed the claim, insisting he never resigned and therefore should have automatically assumed leadership of the party.
He subsequently filed Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an injunction restraining the Mark-led group from parading themselves or dealing or continuing to deal with INEC as National Chairman and Secretary.
INEC said that in light of the conflicting claims, it held a meeting on Tuesday where it resolved:
“To maintain the status quo ante bellum as directed by the Court of Appeal based on the facts and position of the parties existing before 2nd September 2025, when the case was filed by the plaintiff.”
The Commission added that the names of the current National Working Committee members led by Senator David Mark, already uploaded to its portal on 9th September 2025, seven days after the suit was instituted, would now be removed.
INEC explained that this action was necessary to comply with the Court of Appeal’s directive to preserve the status quo ante bellum until the matter is finally determined by the Federal High Court.
It further stated, “The Commission shall not, given the reliefs claimed in the originating summons and the pending motions, receive any further communication or deal with any of the parties or groups pertaining the affairs of the party and will not monitor any Meeting, Congress or Convention convened on behalf of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, by any group until the matter is decided by the Federal High Court, Abuja.”
