INEC Suspends Recognition of ADC Leadership Until Court Case Ends …Removes David Mark, Aregbesola from Its Official Portal

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will henceforth cease to accept correspondences from either the David Mark-led African Democratic Congress (ADC) faction or that of Nafiu Bala, following a review of the Court of Appeal judgment on March 12 this year.

A statement signed by the Chairman, Information and Voter Education, Mohammed Kudu, also noted that the commission will no longer engage with either faction, nor monitor any meetings, congresses, or conventions of the two groups until the matter at the Federal High Court is decided.

The commission further announced that it would remove the names of David Mark from the INEC portal.

Nafiu Bala Gombe, who was the vice chairman of the ADC before the David Mark-led caretaker committee assumed control of the party, approached the courts to challenge the emergence of David Mark and his colleagues at the National Working Committee.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁:

INEC’S POSITION ON THE COURT OF APPEAL’S DECISION IN APPEAL NO. CA/ABJ/145/2026: SENATOR DAVID MARK V HON. NAFIU BALA GOMBE & ORS

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has 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 African Democratic Congress (ADC)
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 Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe.

While 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 (ADC) on account of the pending Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025: Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe v. ADC & 4 Ors. before the Federal High Court, Abuja, where the question of the leadership of the Party (ADC) is presently being contested, 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.

Subsequently, by another letter on the same subject matter dated 27th March, 2026, Summit Law Chambers alleged that the Commission had acted in disobedience of the Court of Appeal’s Orders by:
i. Inviting Senator David Mark’s group to a political parties’ meeting held on Tuesday, 24th March, 2026; and
ii. Monitoring a purported National Executive Committee meeting of that group.
The solicitors (Summit Law Chambers) further drew the attention of the Commission to the Motion Ex-Parte and Motion on Notice filed by their client on 15th December, 2025, seeking to prevent the 1st Defendant (ADC) from holding any convention, congress, conference, or meeting and to stop INEC from attending, monitoring, observing or recognising any activities of the ADC. They accordingly requested INEC to invalidate the NEC meeting held by Senator David Mark’s group on 25th March, 2026, remove the name of Senator David Mark’s group from the INEC portal, stop recognising or acknowledging correspondence from them until the determination of the pending suit before the Federal High Court, Abuja and allow Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe to take over the affairs of ADC pending the determination of the case, and that INEC should respect the orders of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/145/2026.

ORDERS OF THE COURT OF APPEAL
In its judgement delivered on 12th March, 2026, the Court of Appeal dismissed the interlocutory appeal by Senator David Mark and made amongst others, the following 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…
Accordingly, in order to protect the integrity of the proceedings and the eventual determination of the substantive suit pending before the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AS FOLLOWS:
That Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, be and is hereby granted accelerated hearing in view of the Electoral Time Table released by the 4th Respondent.
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.
Cost of N2,000,000.00 (Two Million Naira) is awarded in favour of the 1st respondent.”

was filed by the plaintiff.
That the Commission would, in accordance with the Order of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/145/2026 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, having regard to all the processes filed before the trial Court.
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.
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.

CONCLUSION
The Commission reiterates its unwavering commitment to neutrality, impartiality and strict compliance with judicial orders. Political parties and stakeholders are urged to conduct themselves in a manner that does not jeopardise the Electoral Time Table for the 2027 General Election.

Mohammed Kudu Haruna
National Commissioner,
Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee
1st April 2026