PRESS RELEASE
INEC Clarifies Position on Appeal Court Decision in ADC Leadership Dispute
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has clarified its position on the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/145/2026, Senator David Mark v Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe and others, as it relates to the leadership dispute within the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
The commission said it received two letters dated March 16, 2026, from separate law firms representing opposing interests in the dispute.
The first letter, from Suleiman Usman SAN and Co., urged INEC not to recognise Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe as Acting National Chairman of the ADC, citing the pending suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja, Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, where the issue of the party’s leadership is being contested.
The second letter, from Summit Law Chambers, acting for Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, asked the commission to enforce the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/145/2026. The letter requested INEC to stop recognising Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Chairman and National Secretary of the ADC respectively, remove their names from the commission’s portal, and refrain from dealing with them in relation to the affairs of the party.
INEC said Summit Law Chambers later wrote again on March 27, 2026, alleging that the commission had acted in disobedience of the orders of the Court of Appeal by inviting Senator David Mark’s group to a meeting of political parties held on March 24, 2026, and by monitoring what it described as a purported National Executive Committee meeting of that group.
The solicitors also drew the commission’s attention to motions filed on December 15, 2025, which sought to stop the ADC from holding conventions, congresses, conferences, or meetings, and to prevent INEC from attending, monitoring, observing, or recognising any such activities pending the determination of the suit before the Federal High Court.
Court of Appeal Orders
INEC noted that in its judgment delivered on March 12, 2026, the Court of Appeal dismissed the interlocutory appeal filed by Senator David Mark and made preservatory orders to protect the integrity of the substantive suit pending before the Federal High Court.
Among its orders, the appellate court directed that Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 be granted accelerated hearing in view of the electoral timetable already released by INEC. It also ordered all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum and refrain from taking any step capable of prejudicing the matter before the trial court or rendering the proceedings nugatory.
INEC’s Observations
Following a review of the judgment and the processes filed by the parties before the Federal High Court, INEC made a number of observations.
The commission said the present National Working Committee of the ADC came into being after the National Executive Council meeting of July 29, 2025, during which members of the Ralph Okey Nwosu-led executive resigned and ratified the appointment of a new leadership led by Senator David Mark.
However, Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, who was Vice-National Chairman, maintained that he never resigned from the party. He argued that upon the resignation of the chairman, he ought to have automatically assumed leadership of the party in line with its constitution.
INEC stated that Hon. Gombe instituted Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 before the Federal High Court in Abuja on September 2, 2025. In the suit, he sought, among other reliefs, an injunction restraining Senator David Mark’s group from parading themselves as National Chairman and National Secretary of the ADC, and an order directing INEC to recognise him as Acting National Chairman of the party.
The commission said motions filed alongside the suit also sought to restrain INEC from recognising Senator David Mark’s group pending the determination of the case.
According to INEC, the motion ex parte was heard on September 4, 2025, and the trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, directed the respondents, including the commission, to show cause why the motion should not be granted.
Senator David Mark subsequently appealed the trial court’s order on December 18, 2025, challenging the court’s jurisdiction. That appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on March 12, 2026, alongside the preservatory orders already referenced.
INEC further stated that it received, on March 31, 2026, a letter dated March 28, 2026, from Senator David Mark’s group notifying the commission of the schedule of ADC congresses and national convention, as well as a revised schedule of activities earlier communicated in a letter dated February 27, 2026.
The commission also recalled that the request for the submission of the names of the new principal officers of the ADC, dated July 29, 2025, was received by INEC on September 4, 2025, and approved on September 9, 2025.
Commission’s Resolution
At its meeting held on March 31, 2026, the commission resolved to maintain the status quo ante bellum, as directed by the Court of Appeal, based on the facts and positions of the parties as they existed before September 2, 2025, when the suit was filed.
INEC said it would 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.
The commission also declined the request by the plaintiff’s solicitors to allow Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe to take over the affairs of the ADC pending the determination of the case.
INEC stated that, given the reliefs sought in the originating summons and the pending motions, it would not receive further communications from, or deal with, any of the parties or groups on matters relating to the affairs of the ADC. It also said it would not monitor any meeting, congress, or convention convened on behalf of the party by any group until the Federal High Court determines the matter.
In addition, the commission said the names of the current National Working Committee members led by Senator David Mark, which were uploaded to its portal on September 9, 2025, would be removed in compliance with the order of the Court of Appeal to maintain the status quo ante bellum until the case is decided.
Conclusion
INEC reiterated its commitment to neutrality, impartiality, and strict compliance with judicial orders. It also urged political parties and stakeholders to conduct themselves in a manner that would not jeopardise the electoral timetable for the 2027 general election.
