ADC Leadership Dispute: Mark Heads to Court Over INEC Derecognition

The faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by David Mark has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging the decision of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw recognition of its leadership.

In an application before Justice Emeka Nwite, Mark is seeking an order compelling INEC to reverse its actions and restore the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) as reflected prior to the dispute. He also asked the court to direct the electoral body to resume monitoring ADC activities, including congresses and conventions, pending the resolution of the case.

INEC had, on April 1, removed Mark, listed as National Chairman, and Rauf Aregbesola, identified as National Secretary, from its official records and website.

The motion, filed on April 7 by senior lawyer Sulaiman Usman, is linked to a ruling delivered on March 12 by the Court of Appeal in an earlier suit brought by Nafiu Bala Gombe. Mark’s legal team argues that INEC misinterpreted the appellate court’s directive to maintain the “status quo ante bellum”—the last uncontested leadership structure before litigation began.

According to the filing, Mark was the recognised chairman as of September 2, 2025, when the dispute originated, and the leadership structure had already been constituted. The lawyer contends that INEC’s decision to remove the names of party officials created a leadership vacuum and contradicts the intent of the appellate ruling.

The suit seeks interim orders to restore the ADC leadership as it stood before INEC’s action and to prevent the commission from recognising any rival claims until the matter is fully determined.

Mark’s counsel further argues that the court has the authority to grant a mandatory injunction at this stage to correct what he described as a wrongful alteration of the status quo.

In a separate application, the legal team is also requesting an accelerated hearing. It asked the court to shorten filing timelines and conduct day-to-day proceedings, citing the broader implications of the dispute for party administration and political participation.

The lawyer stated that uncertainty over the party’s leadership is already affecting its operations and could lead to parallel structures if not resolved quickly.

The case stems from an earlier suit filed by Gombe against the ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, INEC, and former party chairman Ralph Nwosu. In September 2025, Justice Nwite declined to grant an interim order to halt the Mark-led leadership, instead directing that all parties be put on notice.

Subsequently, the Court of Appeal instructed the parties to return to the trial court and maintain the existing state of affairs pending a final decision.

The matter is expected to resume before the Federal High Court in Abuja.