ADC Leadership Dispute: INEC removes David Mark-led NWC from portal

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it will maintain the status quo in the leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) pending the determination of the substantive suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

In a document titled INEC’s Observations and resolution of the Commission, signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee and made available via the Commission’s official X handle, INEC said its decision followed a careful consideration of the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/145/2026 and the processes already filed by parties in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025.

The Commission traced the dispute to the emergence of the party’s National Working Committee, NWC, after the National Executive Council meeting of July 29, 2025, where the appointment of the present NWC led by Senator David Mark was ratified following the resignation of members of the Ralph Okey Nwosu-led executive.

INEC, however, noted that the party’s former Vice-National Chairman, Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, denied resigning from the party and insisted that he ought to have automatically assumed leadership of the party after the resignation of the former chairman, Ralph Okey Nwosu, being the only Vice-National Chairman left in line with the party’s constitution.

The Commission disclosed that Gombe subsequently approached the Federal High Court, Abuja, on September 2, 2025, seeking, among other reliefs, an injunction restraining Senator David Mark’s group from parading themselves as the National Chairman and Secretary of ADC, and also sought an order compelling INEC to recognise him as acting National Chairman of the party.

According to INEC, a motion ex parte filed alongside the suit was heard on September 4, 2025, after which the trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, directed the respondents, including the Commission, to show cause why the application should not be granted.

The electoral umpire further stated that Senator David Mark’s group appealed against the order on December 18, 2025, challenging the jurisdiction of the trial court, but the Court of Appeal, Abuja, on March 12, 2026, dismissed the appeal and made preservatory orders.

Following the appellate court judgment, INEC said it received letters from solicitors to both Senator David Mark’s group and Hon. Gombe, with each side making claims and counter-claims to the party’s leadership, while also pressing various demands before the Commission.

INEC said it also received a March 28, 2026 letter from Senator David Mark’s group on March 31, 2026, notifying it of the schedule of ADC congresses and national convention, as well as a revised timetable of activities earlier communicated in a February 27, 2026 correspondence.

After reviewing the matter at its meeting of Tuesday, March 31, 2026, the Commission resolved to maintain the status quo ante bellum based on the facts and position of parties existing before September 2, 2025, when the case was instituted.

It also said it would refrain from taking any step capable of foisting a fait accompli on the court or rendering nugatory the proceedings before the trial court.

INEC further rejected the request by the plaintiff’s solicitors to allow Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe take over the affairs of ADC pending the determination of the case.

The Commission stated that, given the pending motions and the reliefs sought in the substantive suit, it would not receive further communication or deal with any of the contending groups on matters relating to the affairs of ADC, nor would it monitor any meeting, congress or convention convened on behalf of the party until the Federal High Court decides the matter.

INEC said that since the names of the current NWC members led by Senator David Mark were uploaded on its portal on September 9, 2025, seven days after the suit was filed, the names would be removed in compliance with the order of the Court of Appeal to preserve the status quo ante bellum.

The Commission reiterated its commitment to neutrality, impartiality and strict compliance with judicial orders, while urging political parties and stakeholders to conduct themselves in a manner that would not jeopardise the timetable for the 2027 general election.