Party leadership dispute: ADC rejects INEC’s delisting of Mark, Aregbesola

*Alleges electoral body siding with govt against Nigerians

Emeka Agu with agency reports

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) interpretation of the Court of Appeal ruling on the party’s leadership dispute.

The party also accused INEC of siding with the government against Nigerians, alleging that the Electoral body’s decision was shaped by pressure from a government unsettled by the party’s growing momentum.

Recall that INEC on Wednesday said it will no longer accept correspondences from either faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by David Mark or Rafiu Bala, following its review of the March 12 Court of Appeal judgement.

In a statement issued by INEC Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Mohammed Kudu, he said the commission will also refrain from engaging with both groups or monitoring their meetings, congresses, and conventions pending the determination of the case before the federal high court.

Kudu said INEC received a letter from the law firm of Suleiman Usman SAN & Co. dated 16th March 2026, titled “RE: Notice of pending proceedings before the federal high court and caution against any purported recognition of Mr Nafiu Bala gombe as acting national chairman of the African democratic congress (ADC)” written on behalf of concerned stakeholders within the ADC.

The commissioner added that the commission also received a letter from the law firm of Summit Law Chambers also dated 16th March 2026 titled “DEMAND FOR ENFORCEMENT OF THE ORDERS MADE BY THE COURT OF APPEAL, ABUJA DIVISION IN APPEAL NO: CA/ABJ/145/2026: SENATOR DAVID MARK V HON. NAFIU BALA GOMBE & 4 ORS” written on behalf of Gombe.

Kudu noted that while the letter from Suleiman Usman SAN & Co urged the commission not to recognise Gombe as acting national chairman of the ADC due to a pending suit before the federal high court in Abuja, the correspondence from Summit Law Chambers took a contrary position.

According to him, the latter attached a certified true copy of the judgement of the court of appeal in the suit between David Mark and Gombe and requested the commission to enforce the ruling.

He said the law firm’s requests include “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.”

Kudu said in another letter dated March 27, 2026, Summit Law Chambers alleged that the commission had acted in disobedience of the court of appeal’s orders.

According to him, the law firm claimed that INEC erred by “inviting Senator David Mark’s group to a political parties’ meeting held on Tuesday, 24th March, 2026; and monitoring a purported National Executive Committee meeting of that group.”

He said the solicitors also drew the commission’s attention to motions filed on December 15, 2025, seeking to restrain the ADC from holding any convention, congress, conference, or meeting, and to stop INEC from recognising any of its activities.

They subsequently asked the commission to invalidate the national executive committee (NEC) meeting held by Mark’s group on March 25, remove the group’s name from the INEC portal, and stop recognising or acknowledging correspondence from them pending the determination of the suit before the federal high court in Abuja.

The firm also urged INEC to allow Gombe to take over the affairs of the party pending the resolution of the case and to comply with the orders of the court of appeal in appeal number CA/ABJ/145/2026.

The commission in its statement on Wednesday noted that the orders of the court of appeal are central to the ADC leadership dispute.

According to the commission, the court of appeal in its judgement delivered on March 12, 2026, dismissed an interlocutory appeal filed by Mark and issued a number of preservatory orders.

“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….” the statement read in part.

However, the ADC said the development raises deeper concerns about the neutrality of the electoral body and the future of opposition politics in Nigeria.

The party made its position known in a late-night statement on Wednesday issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, reacting to the decision of the electoral umpire to remove the names of its National Chairman, Senator David Mark, and National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, from its portal.

The party added that it is reviewing the situation and will soon announce its next steps.

“We reject INEC’s interpretation of the Court of Appeal ruling. We knew that INEC was being pressured by a government that has become jittery from the ADC’s rising momentum even in the face of its relentless assault on all opposition parties

“INEC’s press statement is full of contradictions that fly in the face of both facts and reason. We shall clarify these contradictions for all to see. What is clear, however, is that INEC has caved to pressure and has chosen to side with the government against the Nigerian people.

“We are currently reviewing our options, and we shall make these known soon.

“Meanwhile, we call on our members and all Nigerians to remain steadfast as they await further directives. Nigeria is rising. ADC is rising,” Abdullahi said.