INEC delists ADC leadership, sparks uproar across opposition parties

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has triggered a political storm after removing the names of David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as National Chairman and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) from its official records.

The decision, announced on Wednesday by National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, has drawn sharp reactions from opposition figures, including the Peoples Democratic Party and Peter Obi.

INEC said its action was based on a subsisting court directive ordering all parties to maintain the status quo pending the resolution of a legal dispute over the leadership of the ADC.

Explaining the move, the commission cited conflicting legal communications from opposing factions within the party, each seeking official recognition.

According to INEC, “the letter from Suleiman Usman SAN & Co urged the commission not to recognise Mr Nafiu Bala Gombe as acting National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress on account of the pending Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, while the letter from Summit Law Chambers, on the other hand, attached the certified True Copy of the Judgment of the Court of Appeal in Suit No. CA/ABJ/145/2026: Senator David Mark v Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe & Ors and requested the commission to enforce the judgement of the Court of Appeal, including: Ceasing recognition of Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Chairman and National Secretary respectively of ADC; Removing their names from the Commission’s portal; and refraining from dealing with or recognising any actions taken by them in respect of the party in line with the preservation orders made by the Court of Appeal.”

The electoral body also referenced allegations from Summit Law Chambers that it had previously engaged with Mark’s faction in defiance of court orders, including inviting the group to meetings and monitoring its activities.

INEC, however, insisted its decision strictly followed the Court of Appeal’s judgment delivered on March 12, 2026, which dismissed Mark’s interlocutory appeal and issued preservative orders.

Quoting the appellate court, the commission stated, “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.

“That suit no. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, be and is hereby granted an accelerated hearing in view of the Electoral Time Table released by the 4th Respondent.”

The court further directed, “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.”

Providing background, INEC traced the crisis to a leadership dispute that followed the emergence of a new National Working Committee led by Mark after a July 2025 NEC meeting, which came on the heels of the resignation of the previous leadership.

The commission noted that Nafiu Bala Gombe, then Vice-National Chairman, rejected the process and laid claim to the leadership, prompting a suit at the Federal High Court.

INEC explained that “ Nafiu Bala Gombe, who was the Vice-National Chairman, denied he ever resigned from the party and claimed that following the resignation of the chairman of the party, Mr Ralph Okey Nwosu, Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, automatically ought to take over as the chairman of the party.”

He subsequently sought multiple court orders, including “An order restraining INEC from recognising, dealing with or continuing to deal with the 2nd and 3rd Defendants as the national chairman and secretary” and “an order directing INEC to recognise the Plaintiff as the acting national chairman.”

After reviewing the legal submissions, INEC said it resolved at its March 31, 2026 meeting to maintain neutrality.

The commission declared, “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 2026, when the case was filed by the plaintiff.

“That the commission would 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.”

It added that it rejected Gombe’s request to assume interim control, stating, “The commission refused to accede to the request of the Plaintiff’s Solicitors to allow Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe to take over the affairs of ADC pending the determination of the case.”

INEC further announced a suspension of all dealings with factions of the party.

“The commission shall not receive any further communication or deal with any of the parties or groups pertaining to the affairs of the party and will not monitor any meeting, congress or convention convened on behalf of the African Democratic Congress by any group until the matter is decided by the Federal High Court, Abuja.”

It also confirmed the removal of the current leadership from its portal, noting, “Since the names of the current National Working Committee members led by Senator David Mark were uploaded on 9th September, 2025, 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.”

The decision has, however, sparked fierce resistance.

Reacting for the ADC, spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi rejected INEC’s interpretation of the court order, insisting the directive meant restoring the situation before litigation began.

“It is definitely a violation of the Court of Appeal position because what the Court of Appeal will rule is that we should maintain the status quo. And that means we should go back to maintain the status quo before all legal interpretation.

“This indicates only one thing. We should maintain the status quo before the Nafiiu Gombe went to court. And the status quo at the time was that David Mark was the leader. And that’s why INEC recognised it.

“So if they are doing otherwise now, it means they are yielding to pressure from the enemies of democracy that this APC government represents, and we are going to resist it by all legal means possible.”

In an earlier statement, Abdullahi alleged a coordinated plot by the ruling All Progressives Congress to destabilise the ADC, warning of a planned protest aimed at forcing leadership changes.

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The statement read in part, “Yesterday, we disclosed a sinister plot by agents of the ruling APC government to pressure INEC into taking illegal action to destabilise our party, following the milestone movement of H.E. Rabiu Kwankwaso to the ADC.

“After meeting a brick wall with INEC, they have now changed tactics, but the objectives remain the same. Information reaching us this morning is that a public protest is being planned for tomorrow, Thursday, 2nd April, in Abuja, sponsored by a particularly notorious minister. Their expectation is that a protest will give oxygen to a case already suffocating in the courts under the weight of its own illegality.

“The plan is simple: a paid crowd, posturing as aggrieved party members, will take to the streets demanding David Mark Must Go. This, they hope, will create public pressure on the INEC Chairman to magically upgrade and recognise an individual who resigned his position and was subsequently expelled from the ADC, to the position of National Chairman of a party he no longer belongs to.

“The plan by the ruling APC government to hijack the leadership of the ADC, the only viable opposition party left in the country, is real. If anything, it has assumed a new level of desperation in the past few days.

“They are not just afraid of our momentum. They are afraid of what happens when the Nigerian people start paying attention and begin to believe that change is possible.”

Former ADC chairman, Ralph Nwosu, dismissed reports of the derecognition as false. “That is fake news. I can’t say more than that,” he said.

From the Obidient Movement, coordinator Yunusa Tanko described INEC’s action as dangerous and politically motivated.

“This is completely absurd. A court case that is still pending. When did they adjudicate on the issue of the court case and make it a basis to say they are not recognising anybody? This is terrible. This is unacceptable. They should be careful with the way they are going. We will reject this, honestly.’’

“Anyway, as far as we are concerned, this is a matter that will be discussed in the public domain for the Nigerian people. Nigeria ceases to be a nation if this happens. Nigeria will face catastrophic effects if INEC continues to use this as a pretext in making decisions that concern the people. This is totally unacceptable in any ramification whatsoever, and the people reject it.

“The APC government is behind it. Of course, because they have seen the level of mobilisation of the African Democratic Congress in Kano, Kaduna and some other parts of the country. And they do not really care if this is set ablaze. This is a catastrophic position that they should not take,” he noted.

The PDP also weighed in, with its spokesman accusing the ruling party of systematically weakening opposition platforms.

“We have said in the statement that it is the APC government that is responsible for the internal crisis in opposition political parties, and they will do everything possible to ensure there is no credible opposition.

“The APC government is afraid of the quit notice Nigerians are giving them. They started with the Labour Party, then they moved to the PDP, and now they are in the ADC. They even went to Accord. Any platform that looks credible and formidable, the APC people enter and destroy it. This is why we are saying that we must all come together and reason. If we need to boycott this election, then we will do so.’’

He added, “I can say for a fact that there is no opposition political party whose APC leadership and the president have not interfered with to the extent that they can use it to do what they want. These are the reasons why the problems in these parties are intractable. There is absolutely no doubt.

“It is a national tragedy and a challenge to democracy that should not be allowed to happen. It is sad that Nigerians are being denied what they are supposed to have, but we can assure that in the end, Nigerians will progress.”

Meanwhile, the faction aligned with Gombe welcomed INEC’s stance, describing it as lawful and balanced.

Speaking through his Chief of Staff, Bala Sani, the group said, “Our position is very clear. All we want is for INEC to comply with the judgment of the Court of Appeal. So, at our own ends, as the leadership of ADC under the Nafiu Bala leadership, we try to commend INEC’s commitment to neutrality and impartiality by maintaining the status quo ante bellum, which does exactly what the Court of Appeal ruling gave.

“We are telling the world that they came to hijack the party from us. We are the legacy parties and members of the party. We built this party for more than 20 years before these people came in. And when they came in, they wanted to pursue us all. But we stood our ground and said, “ No. That’s not how it works.

‘So, the decision is a testament to INEC’s dedication to upholding the constitution and ensuring that the electoral process in this country is not compromised. We thank the civil societies because they all went to the INEC this morning to protest, which drew the attention of INEC to do the needful.”

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