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.”