𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗖 𝗔𝗗𝗖 𝗡𝗪𝗖 𝗗𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗵𝘆?

Acting in compliance with a court ruling, Nigeria’s electoral authority, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has decided to remove the names of the National Working Committee (NWC) headed by David Mark from its official portal.

The commission further stated that it will discontinue any engagement with factions or individuals regarding the internal affairs of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and will neither supervise nor acknowledge any congresses, conventions, or meetings organised in the party’s name until the Federal High Court in Abuja delivers a substantive judgment.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, disclosed this in a statement issued Wednesday in Abuja, noting that the decision was aimed at preventing any action that could impose a fait accompli on the court or undermine the proceedings before the trial court.

He revealed that the commission had received correspondence from the law firm of Suleiman Usman SAN & Co dated March 16, 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).”

According to INEC, the letter was submitted on behalf of concerned stakeholders within the ADC, alongside another communication from Summit Law Chambers, also dated March 16, 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 Nafiu Bala Gombe.

Haruna explained that while Suleiman Usman SAN & Co urged the commission not to recognise Gombe as Acting National Chairman due to ongoing litigation in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 before the Federal High Court, Abuja, where the leadership of the party is being contested, Summit Law Chambers, on the other hand, enclosed a Certified True Copy of the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Suit No. CA/ABJ/145/2026 (Mark v Gombe & Ors), demanding enforcement of the ruling.

The latter specifically requested that INEC withdraw recognition from Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as National Chairman and National Secretary of the ADC.

The court further directed that their names be expunged from the INEC website and that the commission should refrain from receiving correspondence from them or participating in any meetings, congresses, or conventions convened or authorised by them, in line with the preservatory orders issued in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/145/2026.

Haruna noted that the commission also received another letter from Summit Law Chambers dated March 27, 2026, titled: “Demand for enforcement of the orders made by the Court of Appeal Abuja Division in appeal no: CA/ABJ/145/2026 Mark V Gombe & 4 Ors,” accusing INEC of violating the court’s directive by inviting Mark’s faction to a political parties’ meeting held on March 24, 2026, and by monitoring its National Executive Committee meeting.

He stated:

“They further drew the attention of the Commission to the motion ex-parte and motion on notice filed by their client on December 15, 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.”

Haruna explained that the appellate court, after dismissing Mark’s interlocutory appeal, issued 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, to safeguard the integrity of the proceedings and the eventual resolution of the substantive suit pending before the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, the court further ruled that the matter be granted accelerated hearing in view of the Electoral Timetable released by the fourth respondent.

The court also directed that all parties maintain the status quo ante bellum and refrain from taking any steps or actions capable of imposing a fait accompli on the court or rendering the proceedings nugatory.

Additionally, the court awarded a cost of ₦2 million in favour of the first respondent.

Haruna stated:

“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 the 1st 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 commission explained that the motion ex parte was heard on September 4, 2025, and the trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, directed that the respondents, including INEC, be placed on notice to show cause why the motion should not be granted.

Haruna added that the second defendant, Mark, subsequently filed an appeal on December 18, 2025, challenging the jurisdiction of the trial court at the Court of Appeal, Abuja.

He revealed that on March 12, 2026, the appellate court dismissed the appeal and, in addition, issued the preservatory orders referenced above.

He further noted that the plaintiff also filed another motion ex parte and motion on notice on September 15, 2025, seeking to restrain the ADC from convening any convention, congress, conference, or meeting, and to stop INEC from attending, monitoring, observing, or recognising any such activities pending the determination of the suit.

Haruna said that following the Court of Appeal judgment, the commission received multiple communications from legal representatives of both factions, presenting conflicting claims to the party’s leadership and making various demands on INEC.

He added that on March 31, 2026, the commission received a letter dated March 28, 2026, from Mark’s faction notifying it of the timetable for ADC congresses and national convention, including a revised schedule of activities earlier communicated in February.

He also noted that INEC had earlier received a request dated July 29, 2025, for the submission of names of new principal officers of the ADC for upload on its portal, which was received on September 4, 2025, and approved on September 9, 2025.

He stated:

“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.

“Steps be taken to ensure that the originating Summons is heard and determined expeditiously as ordered by the Court of Appeal.”

The commission reaffirmed its commitment to neutrality and impartiality, urging political parties to avoid actions that could disrupt the electoral timetable ahead of the 2027 general elections.