INEC sacks Mark-led ADC NWC

From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it would no longer recognise the David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the opposition coalition party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The commission, in a statement by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, claimed that the decision was in relation to the court’s ruling surrounding the national leadership of the party.

INEC further emphasised that it was acting in line with the court ruling that the Vice-National Chairman of the coalition party, Nafiu Bala Gombe, was supposed to take over the leadership from Ralph Nwosu after his resignation as the National Chairman of the party.

According to the resolution, the commission noted: “Given the above scenario, at the meeting of the commission on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, the commission resolved as follows to maintain the status quo ante bellum as directed by the Court of Appeal based on the facts and position of the parties existing before September 2, 2025, when the case was filed by the plaintiff.

“That the commission would, in accordance with the Order of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/145/2026, 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, having regard to all the processes filed before the trial Court.

“The commission refused to accede to the request of the plaintiff’s solicitors to allow Gombe to take over the affairs of ADC pending the determination of the case.

“The commission shall not, given the reliefs claimed in the originating summons and the pending motions, receive any further communication or deal with any of the parties or groups pertaining to the affairs of the party and will not monitor any meeting, congress or convention convened on behalf of the ADC by any group until the matter is decided by the Federal High Court, Abuja so as not to do any act capable of foisting a fait accompli on the court or otherwise rendering nugatory the proceedings before the trial court.

“Since the names of the current NWC members led by Senator Mark were uploaded on September 9, 2025 by INEC (seven days after the suit was instituted), the names would be removed from the INEC portal pursuant to the order of the Court of Appeal to maintain the status quo ante bellum until the matter is decided by the trial court,” the commission noted in the statement.

Making more clarification, the electoral umpire noted: “The commission reiterates its unwavering commitment to neutrality, impartiality and strict compliance with judicial orders. Political parties and stakeholders are urged to conduct themselves in a manner that does not jeopardise the electoral time table for the 2027 general election.”

While highlighting its observations, INEC noted: “The commission, after a careful consideration of the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/145/2026 and the processes filed by the parties in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 pending before the Federal High Court in Abuja wishes to observe that the Nafiu Bala Gombe, who was the Vice-National Chairman, denied he ever resigned from the party and claimed that following the resignation of the Chairman of the party, Mr. Ralph Okey Nwosu, he, Nafiu Bala Gombe, automatically ought to take over as the Chairman of the party, being the only national vice chairman left behind in accordance with the constitution of the Party.

“That Gombe, through an originating summons, instituted suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 before the Federal High Court in Abuja on September 2, 2025 for an order of injunction restraining Senator Mark’s group (2nd & 3rd defendants) from parading themselves, dealing or continuing to deal with INEC as National Chairman and Secretary of the first defendant (ADC), an order restraining INEC from recognising, dealing with or continuing to deal with the second and third defendants as the National Chairman and Secretary of the first defendant (ADC), an order directing INEC to recognise the plaintiff (Nafiu Bala Gombe) as the acting National Chairman of the first defendant (the ADC), an order of the Court restraining INEC from parading the second and third defendants (Senator Mark’s group) as officials of the first defendant (ADC), etc.

“Along with the originating summons were motions ex parte and motion on notice restraining INEC from recognising Senator Mark’s group. The motion ex parte was heard on September 4, 2025 and the trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, directed that the respondents, including INEC, be put on notice to show cause why the motion ex parte should not be granted.

“The second defendant (Senator Mark) decided to appeal against the order of Nwite on December 18, 2025 to the Court of Appeal, Abuja, challenging the jurisdiction of the trial court.  On March 12, 2026, the Court of Appeal in Abuja, six months after the appeal was filed, dismissed the appeal of the second defendant and, in addition, made the above-quoted presevatory orders.

“The plaintiff also filed another motion ex parte and motion on notice on September 15, 2025 before the trial court seeking to prevent the first defendant (ADC) from holding, convening or summoning any convention, congress, conference or meeting and to stop the fourth defendant (INEC) from attending, monitoring, observing or recognising any activities organised by the first defendant pending the determination of the suit.

“That after the judgment of the Court of Appeal, the commission received letters from the solicitors to Mark’s group and Gombe, making claims and counter-claims to the leadership of the party and making several demands on INEC.

“That the commission also received on March 31, 2026, a letter dated March 28, 2026 from Mark’s group notifying the commission of the schedule of ADC congresses and national convention as well as the revised schedule of activities earlier contained in their letter of February 27, 2026.

“The request, through a letter dated July 29, 2025, for the submission of the names of the new principal officers of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for upload on the Commission’s portal was received by INEC on September 4, 2025 and it was approved by INEC on September 9, 2025,” it explained.