David Mark-led ADC faction asks court to reverse INEC decision

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) faction led by former Senate President David Mark has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reverse recent changes made to the party’s leadership records on its official portal.

In a motion on notice filed before Justice Emeka Nwite, the party is asking the court for a mandatory injunction to set aside INEC’s decision removing members of its National Working Committee (NWC) from the commission’s records, as well as its refusal to monitor the party’s congresses and national convention.

The ADC is also requesting an order directing INEC to immediately restore and maintain the names of all members of its National Working Committee, including David Mark as National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

According to court filings, INEC had on April 1 removed the names of Mark and Aregbesola from its official website and internal portal, a move the party described as unlawful and destabilising.

The motion, filed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Sulaiman Usman (SAN), is based on a March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal arising from a leadership dispute initiated by rival factional claimant Nafiu Bala before Justice Emeka Nwite.

The applicants argued that the appellate court had ordered all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum, meaning the last uncontested position before the dispute escalated.

They maintained that INEC misinterpreted the ruling and acted outside its mandate by altering leadership records and effectively withdrawing recognition of the Mark-led leadership.

“The law is settled that a mandatory injunction may be granted at an interlocutory stage to restore a party to the position wrongfully altered,” the party’s counsel argued, insisting that INEC’s actions risk rendering the substantive case meaningless.

The ADC further urged the court to fast-track the hearing of the matter, citing urgency and the impact of the leadership crisis on the party’s internal administration and political activities ahead of the 2027 elections.

Justice Nwite had earlier declined an ex parte application seeking to halt the Mark-led leadership, instead ordering that all parties be put on notice and adjourned the matter for hearing.

The leadership dispute within the ADC continues to deepen, with parallel claims to authority emerging between rival factions, while INEC maintains its position of acting in line with court directives pending final judicial resolution.