The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has ordered the removal of the names of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by Senator David Mark from its official portal.
The commission has also suspended all dealings with contending factions of the party, pending the determination of an ongoing suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The commission disclosed the decision in a statement on Wednesday by National Commissioner, and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna.
INEC said its decision follows the Court of Appeal’s ruling in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/145/2026 involving Senator David Mark and Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, as well as a flurry of conflicting legal communications from both camps over the party’s leadership.
INEC said it would maintain the ‘status quo ante bellum’, the situation as it existed before the suit was filed on 2 September 2025 in line with the appellate court’s preservatory orders aimed at protecting the integrity of the substantive case.
The Commission also declined a request by Nafiu Bala camp to recognise him as acting national chairman, insisting that doing so would prejudice the matter before the court.
The ADC crisis stems from a leadership tussle within the party following the reported resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Ralph Okey Nwosu, and other executive members in July 2025, which paved the way for the emergence of a new NWC led by Mark.
Gombe, who served as Vice-National Chairman, challenged the development, arguing that he never resigned and should automatically assume leadership of the party in line with its constitution.
He subsequently approached the Federal High Court seeking, among others, an order restraining INEC from recognising Mark’s leadership and directing the Commission to acknowledge him as acting chairman.
While the matter was pending, Mark’s camp filed an interlocutory appeal challenging the jurisdiction of the trial court.
But in its 12 March 2026 judgment, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal and ordered parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum, warning against actions that could undermine the pending proceedings.
The appellate court also directed an accelerated hearing of the substantive suit, citing the proximity of the 2027 general election timetable.
INEC disclosed that it received separate letters dated 16 March 2026, from lawyers representing both factions.
While the law firm of Suleiman Usman (SAN) urged the Commission not to recognise Gombe as acting chairman due to the pending suit, Summit Law Chambers, representing Gombe, demanded enforcement of the Court of Appeal judgment.
Specifically, Gombe’s lawyers asked INEC to cease recognition of Mark and former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as national chairman and secretary respectively, remove their names from its portal, and refrain from dealing with them.
They further accused the Commission of disobeying court orders by inviting Mark’s faction to a political parties’ meeting and monitoring its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in March.
In addition, they called for the invalidation of decisions taken at the NEC meeting and sought to restrain INEC from recognising any activities of the party pending the court’s final decision.
Responding, INEC said it carefully reviewed the judgment of the Court of Appeal and all processes before the Federal High Court before arriving at its position.
The Commission resolved to maintain the status quo ante bellum as directed by the Court of Appeal and refrain from taking any action that could prejudice the court proceedings.
INEC said it would also decline recognition of Gombe as acting national chairman and suspend all interactions with any faction of the ADC.
‘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 so as not to do any act capable of foisting a fait accompli on the court or otherwise rendering nugatory the proceedings before the trial court.
‘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’, the statement said.
The Commission, however, reaffirmed its commitment to neutrality, impartiality, and adherence to the rule of law, urging political actors to avoid actions capable of undermining the electoral process.
