INEC officially updated its website, removed all ADC David Mark-led NWC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially updated its website and removed David Mark-led National Working Committee of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The commission sites Court order.

INEC in a press statement details the reasons for the removal of Senator David Mark led NWC from it's Portal.

PRESS RELEASE

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.”

INEC’S OBSERVATIONS

The Commission, after a careful consideration of the Judgment of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/145/2026 and the processes filed by the parties in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 pending before the Federal High Court in Abuja wishes to observe as follows:

  

That the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Party (ADC) came into being following the National Executive Council Meeting of 29th July, 2025 after all the Mr. Ralph Okey Nwosu Exco Members resigned and ratified the appointment of the present members of the National Working Committee (NWC)  led by Senator David Mark.

That Hon. 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, he Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, automatically ought to take over as the Chairman of the Party, being the only  Vice-National Chairman left behind in accordance with the constitution of the Party.

That Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, through an Originating Summons, instituted Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 before the Federal High Court in Abuja on 2nd September, 2025 for an order of injunction restraining Senator David Mark's group (2nd & 3rd Defendants) from parading themselves, dealing or continuing to deal with INEC as National Chairman and Secretary of the 1st Defendant (ADC), an order restraining INEC from recognising, dealing with or continuing to deal with the 2nd and 3rd Defendants as the National Chairman and Secretary of the 1st Defendant (ADC), an order directing INEC to recognise the Plaintiff (Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe) as the acting National Chairman of the 1st Defendant (the ADC), an order of the Honourable Court restraining INEC from parading the 2nd and 3rd Defendants (Senator David Mark's group) as officials of the1st Defendant (ADC), etc.

Along with the Originating Summons were Motion Ex Parte and Motion on Notice restraining INEC from recognising Senator David Mark's group.  

The motion ex parte was heard on 4th September, 2025 and the trial Judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, directed that the Respondents, including INEC, be put on Notice to show cause why the Motion Ex Parte should not be granted.

The 2nd Defendant (Senator David Mark) decided to appeal against the order of Nwite, J. on 18th December, 2025 to the Court of Appeal, Abuja, challenging the jurisdiction of the trial court. 

On 12th March, 2026, the Court of Appeal in Abuja ( 6 months after the appeal was filed)  dismissed the appeal of the 2nd Defendant and, in addition, made the above-quoted presevatory orders. 

The Plaintiff also filed another Motion Ex Parte and Motion on Notice on 15th September, 2025 before the trial court seeking to prevent the 1st Defendant (ADC) from holding, convening or summoning any Convention, Congress, Conference or meeting and to stop the 4th Defendant (INEC) from attending, monitoring, observing, or recognising any activities organised by the 1st Defendant pending the determination of the suit.

That after the Judgment of the Court of Appeal, the Commission received letters from the solicitors to Senator David Mark's group and Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, making claims and counter-claims to the leadership of the party and making several demands on INEC.

That the Commission also received on 31st March, 2026, a letter dated 28th March, 2026 from Senator David Mark's group notifying the Commission of the schedule of ADC Congresses and National Convention as well as the revised schedule of activities earlier contained in their letter of 27th February, 2026. 

The request, through a letter dated 29th July, 2025, for the submission of the names of the New Principal Officers of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for upload on the Commission’s portal was received by INEC on 4th September, 2025 and it was approved by INEC on 9th September, 2025.

RESOLUTON OF THE COMMISSION

Given the above scenario, at the meeting of the Commission on Tuesday, 31st  March, 2026, the Commission resolved as follows:

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 2025, when the case 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

ADC Crisis: Why Appeal Court Sacked David Mark and Aregbesola, Labour Party May remain the only option for 2027

Nigeria's Court of Appeal removes David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Adensoji Aregbesola  as national chairman and National Secretary of African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the Court affirms Nafiu Bala as the authentic leader of the opposition party.

The development has since sparks political reactions as Bala is widely regarded as an ally of the Nigeria's incumbent president Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling All Progressive Congress.

The APC leadership has been in charge of the country since 2015, failed to tackles the insecurity as the regime has been involving in negotiations with the terrorists that have been ravaging the country since 2009.

The crisis rocking opposition political parties including the Labour Party (LP), People's Democratic Party (PDP) and lately African Democratic Congress (ADC) are all linked to the desperate moves of the pro Terrorists Bola Tinubu led APC Government.

On ADC litigation, the Court of Appeal (Nigeria) has reportedly removed former Senate President, David Mark, as the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), affirming Nafiu Bala as the authentic leader of the party. Many believed Nafiu Bala was bankrolled by the presidency to cause distablisation the coalition of the political oligarchy aiming to use the platform in 2027.

The appellate court ruling is said to have resolved a leadership crisis that had divided the party, with the judges recognising Bala as the legitimate national chairman with authority to manage the party’s affairs..

The judgment is already generating reactions within political circles, as analysts believe the decision could reshape the internal structure of the ADC and influence its political direction in the coming months. The development has also attracted attention due to Bala’s perceived political closeness to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a factor observers say could affect future political alignments.

As of the time of filing this report, David Mark had not issued an official response to the ruling. The judgment may trigger further legal or political steps from factions that previously backed Mark’s leadership.

With the court affirming Bala as chairman, it's believe the party may now move to stabilise its leadership after months of internal disagreements while stakeholders monitor how different factions within the party respond to the verdict.

The ambition of the former Vice President Alhaj Atiku Abubakar, former Governor of Anambra State Mr. Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi to clinch the presidential Ticket of the party might have hit a dead luck depending on the direction of Snafu leadership.

The Labour Party has recently emerged as a platform free of crisis following both the supreme court judgement and an Abuja Court court affirming the leadership of the Distinguished Senator Nenadi Esther Usman as the Authentic leadership that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must deal with. While the PDP is believed to have been taken over by the pro Tinubu ally Wike.

The Labour Party may be the only alternative political platform for all the opposition as far as the 2027 general elections may be concerned.

OPPOSITION LEADERS ADOPT ADC TO UNSEAT TINUBU, NAMES DAVID MARK, AREGBESOLA AS PROTEM LEADERS

After a high-level meeting in Abuja in Tuesday, major opposition coalition of political heavyweights in Nigeria  ahead of the 2027 general elections have adopted a New party to rescue the country from the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led APC federal government.

The realignment of Nigeria’s political landscape, top opposition leaders adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their new political platform, nominating former Senate President David Mark as the party’s protem national chairman and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as protem national secretary.

Prominent leaders present at the meeting of the official adoption of ADC include former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, former All Progressives Congress National Chairman John Oyegun, former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Cross River Governor Liyel Imoke, and former House Speaker and ex-Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal.

Others in attendance include influential political figures like Kashim Imam and other senior stakeholders from across the political spectrum.

Sources at the meeting described the development as a convergence of politicians from across party lines, driven by a shared determination to unseat President Bola Tinubu and dislodge the ruling APC in the 2027 elections.

The coalition includes former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, among others.

They argue that President Tinubu’s administration has failed to deliver on its promises, citing economic hardship, insecurity, and what they call “renewed hardship” instead of “renewed hope”.

The coalition aims to unify opposition forces across party lines to present a single, formidable candidate in 2027. Their rhetoric frames the movement as a rescue mission rather than just a political contest.

In June 2025, the coalition applied to register a new party called the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) with INEC. The application included a constitution, manifesto, and a maize-themed logo symbolsiing prosperity.

Two different groups submitted applications for parties with the ADA acronym—All Democratic Alliance and Advanced Democratic Alliance—which could complicate approval.

Facing delays and uncertainty around ADA’s registration, the coalition has now adopted the ADC as its platform.

This is getting very interesting! What happened in 2015 general elections, is it going to repeat itself in 2027?

ACCEPTANCE SPEECH FORMER OSUN STATE GOV RAUF AREGBESOLA ON HIS APPOINTMENT AS THE INTERIM NATIONAL SECRETARY, ADC - The party platform adopted by the National Opposition Coalition Group

Dear Party Leaders, Distinguished Members, Friends, and Fellow Citizens,

It is with deep humility, a profound sense of duty, and unwavering hope for our people, nation, race and party and that I accept the appointment as  The National Secretary of our great party.

I thank the leadership for the trust reposed in me. But more than that, I thank every committed member of this party are those who still believe that politics can be a force for good,  people who believe that party forms government and must control it. Those who believe in the supremacy of the party in a democracy and all products of democratic contests. Those who recognise that parties must stand for and with the people in the promotion of their interests and aspirations. That parties therefore are not merely machines for winning elections but institutions for mobilizing, organizing, energizing, educating, empowering and encouraging the people towards their emancipation and development.

Let me begin by saying this: a political  party is not a platform for opportunism. It is not a mere vehicle to power for the few, nor a tool for personal ambition. A political party, in its truest form, is a living institution—built on values, guided by ideals, and accountable to the people it seeks to serve.

Throughout Africa’s history, and particularly in the legacy of the African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa; a 113 year- behemoth of party organization that is impeccable in its credibility as a model of supremacy of party over its creation (government and popularly elected officials) have seen what a party grounded in ideology, principle, and people-centered struggle can achieve. The ANC  is not perfect—but it stands  for something. It was forged in resistance, sharpened by vision, and led by men and women who believe in justice, dignity, equality, inclusivity of all interests and true freedom. It has character. It has soul. It is therefore a true platform for the expression of their aspirations.

Sadly, in Nigeria today, we cannot say the same about many of our political parties.

Our political landscape is plagued by parties that lack ideological depth. They are empty shells—merging and splitting, not over policy or principle, but over power and personality. There is little regard for the people, and even less for the country.

That is not the kind of party we must be. That is not the kind of party I will serve.

As The National Secretary, I will work to build a party that has a clear ideological compass—a party that is absolutely committed to the people,  rooted in democratic values, rule of law, social justice, accountability, transparency and national development. A party that listens and works for to the people, not only during elections, but every single day.

We must become an institution where:

 (1) Internal democracy is not just preached but practiced.

 (2) Intra-party competition is transparent, fair, and just.

 (3) All party structures from the ward to the national level and function effectively and efficiently.

 (4) Young people, women, and the marginalized have a real voice, not symbolic inclusion.

        (5) All special and critical interests(security, educators, farmers, workers, women, youth, professionals, people with special needs, etc., must be recognised and allowed to have autonomous structures within the party.

We will model international best practices in party organization, administration, and ethics. We will study what works—from South Africa to Sweden, from Chile to Kenya, and adapt what fits our local reality. Discipline, order, clarity of purpose, and service to the people must define us.

We must be the party that talks about public education and actually builds schools. That speaks of security and supports real policies to keep our communities safe. That believes in jobs and works to create them. That stands for Nigeria not just during elections, but in everyday governance.

This is not an easy task. It will take time. It will demand sacrifice. But it can be done.

I ask for your support not just in words, but in action. Hold me accountable. Challenge me when I stray. And stand with me as we begin this journey to rebuild our party, restore its soul, and return politics to its rightful place—as a service to the people.

Thank you, and may our work ahead be worthy of the hopes our people place in us.

Long live our party. Long live our democracy. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola