The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced moves to remove the names of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by David Mark, from its portal following a Court of Appeal ruling.
The commission, in a statement on Wednesday, said the decision comes after it reviewed the judgment delivered on March 12, 2026, in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/145/2026 and considered ongoing proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja over the leadership crisis within the party.
INEC said it received separate letters dated March 16, 2026, from Suleiman Usman SAN & Co. and Summit Law Chambers, representing opposing interests within the ADC, with each side making conflicting demands on the commission regarding recognition of the party’s leadership.
While one party urged INEC not to recognise Nafiu Bala Gombe as acting national chairman due to a pending suit, the other demanded enforcement of the appellate court judgment, including the withdrawal of recognition for the David Mark-led leadership and removal of their names from the commission’s records.
Further correspondence from Summit Law Chambers alleged that INEC had acted contrary to court orders by engaging with the David Mark-led group at a political parties’ meeting and monitoring its activities, while also requesting the commission to invalidate the group’s National Executive Committee meeting and stop recognising it pending the court’s decision.
INEC traced the dispute to the July 29, 2025 National Executive Council meeting of the ADC, where a new NWC led by David Mark emerged following the resignation of the previous executive members, a development contested by Gombe, who maintains that he should assume leadership as the remaining vice-national chairman in line with the party’s constitution.
The commission noted that Gombe had filed a suit at the Federal High Court on September 2, 2025, seeking to restrain the David Mark-led group from acting as party officials and to compel INEC to recognise him as acting national chairman, alongside motions aimed at stopping the commission from recognising any activities of the party pending the case.
INEC also observed that the Court of Appeal dismissed an interlocutory appeal filed by David Mark and ordered parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit, while granting accelerated hearing of the case.
Following its review, the commission said it resolved to maintain the status quo as it existed before the suit was filed on September 2, 2025, and to refrain from taking any action that could affect the outcome of the case.
It added that it rejected the request to recognise Gombe as acting chairman and would not deal with any faction of the party or monitor any meetings, congresses or conventions organised by either group until the court delivers a final judgment.
INEC further stated that since the names of the current NWC led by David Mark were uploaded on September 9, 2025, after the suit had already been filed, they would be removed from its portal in compliance with the Court of Appeal’s directive to preserve the status quo.
The commission reaffirmed its commitment to neutrality and adherence to judicial orders, urging political parties and stakeholders to act in ways that do not disrupt preparations for the 2027 general election.
The statement reads partly: “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.”