ADC Leadership Dispute Deepens as INEC Freezes Party Activities Over Court Orders

Nigeria’s electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has suspended dealings with all factions of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and ordered the removal of the party’s current leadership from its official portal following a protracted legal dispute over the party’s national leadership.

The commission announced the decision on Tuesday after reviewing the judgment of the Court of Appeal in a case involving David Mark and Nafiu Bala Gombe, both laying claim to the leadership of the ADC.

In a statement issued by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, the commission said it would maintain the status quo ante bellum as directed by the Court of Appeal pending the final determination of the case before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

INEC explained that the decision followed conflicting legal communications from lawyers representing both factions of the party after the Court of Appeal delivered judgment in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/145/2026.

While lawyers to Gombe demanded enforcement of the appellate court’s orders, including the cessation of recognition of Mark as ADC national chairman, another legal team urged INEC not to recognise Gombe as acting chairman because of the pending suit before the Federal High Court.

The dispute stems from a leadership tussle that began after the resignation of the party’s previous executive members led by Ralph Okey Nwosu, which resulted in the emergence of a new National Working Committee headed by Mark following a National Executive Committee meeting in July 2025.

However, Gombe, who served as vice-national chairman, rejected the arrangement, arguing that he never resigned and should automatically assume the role of acting chairman under the party’s constitution.

He subsequently approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking orders restraining Mark and his allies from parading themselves as party leaders and asking the court to compel INEC to recognise him as acting national chairman.

During the proceedings, Mark challenged the jurisdiction of the trial court and filed an appeal. But in its ruling on March 12, 2026, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal and ordered parties to maintain the existing situation before the filing of the suit while directing the Federal High Court to grant accelerated hearing of the matter.

Following the judgment, both camps wrote to INEC with opposing demands regarding recognition of the party’s leadership and enforcement of the court orders.

INEC said the situation prompted the commission to review all court processes and claims before reaching a resolution at its meeting on March 31.

As part of the measures, the electoral body said it would remove from its portal the names of the National Working Committee members led by Mark, which were uploaded in September 2025.

The commission also announced that it would not recognise or engage with any faction of the party or monitor any meeting, congress or convention organised by any group claiming to act on behalf of the ADC until the court resolves the dispute.

“The commission will refrain from taking any step capable of foisting a fait accompli on the court or rendering the proceedings before the trial court nugatory,” the statement said.

INEC emphasised that the decision was taken strictly in compliance with the directive of the Court of Appeal and in order to preserve the integrity of the ongoing legal proceedings.

The electoral body also urged political parties and stakeholders to conduct their affairs responsibly so as not to disrupt preparations for the 2027 general elections.

The leadership crisis within the ADC comes at a sensitive time for the party, which has recently witnessed increased political activity and realignments ahead of the next election cycle.