
News
BREAKING: INEC deletes David Mark, Aregbesola’s names from portal; won’t monitor convention, congresses

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has moved to strike out the names of Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola from its portal as National Chairman and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, respectively.
Also, INEC said it would not recognise one Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, who had gone to court seeking to be made national chairman.
In a decisive response to the leadership tussle rocking the party and the recent judgment of the Court of Appeal in Suit No. CA/ABJ/145/2026, the Commission on Wednesday announced it will cease all recognition of the duo and refrain from monitoring any conventions or congresses organised by their faction, pending the determination of the substantive suit before the Federal High Court.
In a statement by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mallam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, INEC reiterated its “unwavering commitment to remain impartial and unbiased”.
He urged all political actors to avoid actions that could jeopardise the 2027 election timetable.
While the Commission refused a counter-request by Gombe’s lawyers to allow him to immediately take over the party’s affairs, it committed to ensuring the case is heard expeditiously.

INEC said it was in receipt of a letter from the law firm of Suleiman Usman SAN & Co dated 16th March 2026 titled “Re: Notice of Pending Proceedings before the Federal Highway Court and Caution against any Purported Recognition of Mr Nafiu Bala Gombe as Acting National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress ADC”.
The crisis reached a boiling point following conflicting demands from legal representatives of the warring factions.
INEC also confirmed receiving a “Demand for Enforcement” from Summit Law Chambers, representing Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, which requested the Commission to: “Stop recognising Senator David Mark or and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as the National Chairman and National Secretary of African Democratic Congress ADC, remove their names from INEC Website and refrain from receiving any correspondences from them or attending any of their meetings, congress or convention ordered or authorised by them.”
The demand followed the Court of Appeal’s dismissal of Senator David Mark’s interlocutory appeal and the subsequent issuance of preservatory orders.
In its ruling, the Court of Appeal emphasised the need to protect the integrity of the judicial process. The Commission quoted the appellate court’s order extensively as: “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… IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AS FOLLOWS: 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.”
Detailing the timeline of the dispute, INEC noted that the David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) claimed legitimacy following the resignation of the Ralph Okey Nwosu-led executive in July 2025.
However, Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, the only existing National Vice Chairman, contested this, claiming he never resigned and ought to have automatically taken over as Chairman.
Gombe subsequently filed Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, seeking an injunction to restrain the Mark group from “parading themselves, dealing or continuing to deal with INEC as National Chairman and Secretary.”
In light of these developments, INEC held a meeting on Tuesday where it resolved: “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.”
The Commission further clarified its stance on the party’s leadership names currently on its digital platform: “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.”
The electoral umpire has now effectively frozen its relationship with the ADC leadership until the Federal High Court reaches a final decision.
It said; “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.”
News
FG reforms NYSC, replaces military leadership, redesigns uniform
President Bola Tinubu administration has approved the comprehensive reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Under the new arrangement, the military will no longer head the scheme.
Instead, the agency will be led by a civilian in its operational leadership, while the military will continue to handle security for corps members across the country.
The development was announced on Monday by the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande after the Federal Executive Council, FEC, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Tinubu also directed the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, and the Minister of Youth, Ayodele Olawande, to amend the NYSC Act and its regulations to reflect all the approved reform measures, enabling immediate implementation of the new framework.
Some of the landmark reforms include:

A technology-driven call-up process.
Risk-sensitive deployment to better protect corps members.
A redesigned six-week orientation programme with a stronger focus on leadership, entrepreneurship, digital skills, and specialised career streams.
Skills-based primary assignments aligned with academic background and career pathways.
Modern governance with civilian operational leadership while the military continues to provide security support.
Improved camp standards through a national grading and certification system.
A new graduation ceremony to replace the Passing Out Parade, and a redesigned NYSC uniform that reflects professionalism and national pride.
News
Group asks court to disqualify Tinubu from 2027 Election over alleged Certificate Forgery
The Centre for Reform and Public Advocacy (CFRPA) has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Kano seeking the disqualification of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the 2027 presidential election over allegations of certificate forgery.
According to court documents seen by Daily Trust, the plaintiff alleged that Tinubu presented forged academic certificates from Chicago State University and a fake National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the 2023 elections.
The suit, marked FHC/K/CS/312/2026, lists Tinubu, INEC, and Chicago State University as defendants.
The plaintiff contended that Tinubu never attended Government College Lagos as claimed, noting that the school was established in 1974, four years after Tinubu allegedly graduated.
The CSO further argued that Tinubu does not possess a valid secondary school certificate, which is the minimum constitutional requirement to contest for the presidency.
It claimed that INEC had failed to act on its petition dated June 19, 2026, demanding clarification on Tinubu’s eligibility.

In its statement of claims, the group referenced a 2023 U.S. court ruling in Re: Application of Atiku Abubakar (No. 23 CV 05099), which compelled Chicago State University to release Tinubu’s academic records.
The plaintiff insisted those records revealed false entries and inconsistencies, including a forged University of Cambridge General Certificate of Education.
The prayers asked by the plaintiff included declaration of forgery against Tinubu’s Chicago State University certificate, issuance of an order directing INEC to disqualify him from the 2027 presidential election, directing CSU to strike Tinubu’s name from its records and perpetual injunction restraining INEC from uploading Tinubu’s name as a candidate.
The plaintiff also submitted affidavits of non-multiplicity of action, witness statements, and letters to the NYSC and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, demanding disclaimers on the alleged fake NYSC certificate.
News
Firm expresses concern over repeated missing Court File in Ojukwu Property case
Ojukwu Transport Limited, OTL, has raised concerns over what it described as the repeated absence of court records in its ongoing property dispute with Bianca Ojukwu and her sons, even as it filed a motion for stay of execution pending the determination of its appeal.
Proceedings before Justice A.M. Lawal of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, last Monday were stalled for the second time in six weeks due to the unavailability of the case file.
The matter was adjourned after the file was reportedly not returned to court.
A similar situation occurred on May 8, 2026, when the case could not proceed because the file was unavailable.
OTL alleged that the file had been taken from the Ikeja Judicial Division to Lagos more than two months ago for the execution of a warrant and had not been returned.
The claimants’ legal representatives were absent from court on both occasions.

Describing the development as troubling, OTL said the repeated absence of the file had effectively stalled proceedings and raised questions about accountability in the handling of court records.
Amid the delays, the company disclosed that it had filed and served a motion for stay of execution at the Court of Appeal, seeking to halt enforcement of the judgment pending the determination of its appeal against the 2022 decision in Suit No. LD/1539/2012.
OTL maintained that the application became necessary because steps were being taken to enforce the judgment despite its pending appeal.
The company also contended that the properties in dispute had previously been the subject of a warrant of execution arising from a separate judgment delivered in 2018 by Justice Adedayo Oyebanji in Suit No. LD/794/2011.
The case was subsequently adjourned to October 8, 2026.
Present in court on both adjourned dates on behalf of Ojukwu Transport Limited was one of its directors, Dr. P. Ike Ojukwu.
Counsel to OTL are Ifeanyi Okumah Esq and Chief O. Ugolo, SAN, while Bianca Ojukwu and her sons are represented by Nick Omeye Esq and Co.
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