Trouble for Atiku and Obi as INEC suspends recognition of David Mark-led ADC executive

On April 1, 2026, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced via its social media handle that the commission will be temporarily disregarding the Senator David Mark's led executive of the African Democratic Congress.

This news comes hours a group which claims to be a collection of Rights Group protested at the INEC headquarters to demand that the commission follow the Judgement of the Court of Appeal which ordered that the parties in the suit between David Mark v Nafiu Bala Gombe maintain status quo pending the accelerated hearing of the case on the legitimacy of the David Mark led National working committe before the Federal High Court.

INEC, in its post, stated that the legal representatives of Gombe had sent a letter with a copy of the Court of Appeal's decision, with a request that INEC cease the recognition of David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as the National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively, and allow Gombe to take up the affairs of the ADC pending the determination of the case.

INEC stated that in obedience to the Court of Appeal order, it would cease the recognition of the David Mark-led executive, but refused to allow Nasir Bala Gombe to take over the leadership of the party pending the determination of the suit. INEC has since proceeded to remove the David Mark-led executive of the ADC from its website.

INEC's decision to cease the recognition of the David Mark-led executive committee of the ADC has sparked reaction online, with observers tagging it a curious one. Among the vocal critics are lawyers who argue that the commission's position has no legal basis.

Renowned Human Rights Lawyers Barrister Inibehe Effiong and Barrister Festus Ogun have both faulted INEC's decision, which they claimed fails the test of the law.

Effiong, in a post on X(formerly Twitter), stated that the Court of Appeal ordered the parties to maintain status quo ante bellum, which means the state of affairs before the suit before the Federal High Court was filed by the Claimant. This followed that David Mark, who was the party chairman before the suit was initiated, ought to remain in his position.

Also, Ogun pointed to the provisions of Section 83(5) of the Electoral Act 2026, which expressly stated that "no court in Nigeria shall entertain jurisdiction over any suit or matter pertaining to the internal affairs of a political party." He further quoted Section 83(6) of the Act, which prohibits the court from granting interim or interlocutory injunctions.

By virtue of these sections, Ogun argued that the court shouldn't hear the issue of the internal dispute on the chairmanship of ADC.

In a statement shared on the ADC Coalition Vanguard X page and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said it rejects INEC's interpretation of the Court of Appeal order. The party described INEC's position as contradictory and inconsistent with facts, while warning that the commission has sided with the government against Nigerians.

ADC also posted a copy of Nafiu Bello Gombe's signed letter of resignation from the party in his capacity as deputy chairman as evidence against his claim of being the legitimate chairman of the party.

ADC had earlier accused the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) of plotting to use INEC to destabilise the party by staging a protest to demand that the commission cease to recognise the David-Mark-led national executive committee. ADC accused the APC of resorting to desperate tactics to disrupt the party following its recent stride of welcoming the former governor of Kano state, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to the party.

INEC's latest decision throws a huge spanner in the works for ADC, which is shaping up to be the leading opposition party. This decision will be particularly telling for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former governor of Anambra State Peter Obi, who are both expected to vie for the ballot as the party's candidtate in the 2027 presidential election, which is barely 9 months away.