INEC Suspends Recognition of Mark, Aregbesola as ADC Leaders
Last update: April 1, 2026
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INEC rejects recognition of David Mark, Aregbesola, Nafiu Bala Gombe as ADC leaders.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has removed the names of David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its official portal as National Chairman and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
CBI News reports that the commission also stated that it would not recognise Nafiu Bala Gombe, who is seeking to be declared national chairman through ongoing court proceedings.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, INEC said it would suspend recognition of all factions within the party and refrain from monitoring any conventions or congresses organised by groups linked to the contending leaders.
The commission explained that the decision would remain in place pending the final determination of a substantive suit before the Federal High Court.
The move comes amid a deepening leadership crisis within the ADC, further complicated by a recent judgment of the Court of Appeal in Suit No. CA/ABJ/145/2026, which has fueled conflicting claims to the party’s leadership.
Speaking on the development, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said the commission remains neutral in the dispute.
He urged political actors to exercise restraint and avoid actions that could disrupt preparations for the 2027 general elections.
INEC disclosed that it had received a letter dated March 16, 2026, from Suleiman Usman SAN & Co, cautioning against recognising Gombe as acting national chairman while the matter remains in court.
The commission also confirmed receiving a separate “Demand for Enforcement” from Summit Law Chambers, representing Gombe, which called for the removal of Mark and Aregbesola from its records.
The conflicting legal positions from rival factions, INEC noted, have intensified the internal crisis within the party, prompting the commission to suspend all official dealings with the ADC’s contending groups pending court resolution.
