ADC crisis: INEC delists Mark, Aregbesola as national chair, scribe

…Declines request to install Gombe acting chair

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declined requests to recognise Nafiu Bala Gombe as Acting National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing a pending court case and the need to comply with judicial orders.

This is as the commission also delisted, former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as national chairman and national secretary of the ADC respectively.

Mallam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, said this on Wednesday in a statement.

According to him, the commission’s decision followed the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Appeal.

The commission said it has resolved to maintain the status quo in the leadership dispute within the ADC, in compliance with the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/145/2026: Senator David Mark v. Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe & Ors.

“The decision was taken, after a careful review of the Court of Appeal’s judgment delivered on 12th March 2026 and the ongoing case before the Federal High Court, Abuja,” Haruna said.

According to the statement, the commission had earlier received separate letters dated 16th March 2026 from two law firms representing different interests in the party. Suleiman Usman SAN & Co., writing on behalf of concerned stakeholders within the ADC, cautioned the Commission against recognising Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe as Acting National Chairman while the matter remains before the Federal High Court.

Also, Summit Law Chambers, acting for Hon. Gombe, urged the commission to enforce the Court of Appeal’s judgment by ceasing recognition of Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Chairman and National Secretary of the party, removing their names from INEC’s portal and refraining from dealing with them.

The statement added that in another letter dated 27th March 2026, Summit Law Chambers alleged that INEC had disobeyed the Court of Appeal’s orders by inviting Senator David Mark’s group to a political parties’ meeting and by monitoring a purported National Executive Committee meeting convened by the group.

It recalled that in its judgment, the Court of Appeal dismissed the interlocutory appeal filed by Senator David Mark and directed that the parties must maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the determination of the substantive suit before the Federal High Court.

The court also ordered an accelerated hearing of the case in view of the Electoral Timetable and warned parties against taking any steps that could prejudice the matter before the trial court.

The commission observed that the current National Working Committee of the ADC emerged from a National Executive Council meeting held on 29th July 2025 following the resignation of the previous executive committee led by Mr. Ralph Okey Nwosu. Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, who was Vice National Chairman.

Gombe maintained that he did not resign and that by virtue of the party’s constitution, he should assume leadership following the resignation of the Chairman.

He subsequently filed Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 on 2nd September 2025, seeking orders to restrain Senator David Mark’s group from parading themselves as party leaders and to compel INEC to recognise him as Acting National Chairman.

INEC also noted that the names of the current National Working Committee led by Senator David Mark were uploaded to its portal on 9th September 2025 following a request received on 4th September 2025.

“After considering the judgment and all relevant processes, the Commission resolved to maintain the situation as it existed before 2nd September 2025, when the suit was filed. It also resolved to refrain from taking any action that could undermine the proceedings before the Federal High Court.

” The Commission declined the request to allow Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe to take over the affairs of the party pending the court’s decision,” the statement said.

The commission said it will not receive further communication from, or deal with, any of the contending groups on matters relating to the party’s affairs and will not monitor any meeting, congress or convention convened by any faction of the ADC until the case is determined by the Federal High Court.

The statement said, “In line with the directive to maintain the status quo, the Commission will remove from its portal the names of the current National Working Committee members led by Senator David Mark.

“Since the names of the current National Working Committee members led by Senator David Mark were uploaded on 9th September, 2025 by INEC (7 days after the suit was instituted), the names would be removed from the INEC portal pursuant to the order of the Court of Appeal to maintain the status quo ante bellum until the matter is decided by the trial court.”