INEC relists names of Mark, Aregbesola, other ADC’s NWC members on its portal

• Hours after Supreme Court judgement

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

In compliance with the Thursday’s judgement of the Supreme Court, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has relisted the name of the Senator David Mark as the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, ADC on its portal.

Also re-instated on the INEC’s website are the names of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, former Governor of Osun State, as National Secretary of the ADC, Mani Ahmad as National Treasurer, Akibu Dalhatu as National Financial Secretary, and Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor as National Legal Adviser.

The Prof Joash Amupitan-chaired commission updated its website, few hours after the judgement of the nation’s apex court, the Supreme Court, bringing back the names of the members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ADC after 30 days of delisting same from it portal.

The names of the David Mark-led NWC members were removed from commission’s portal on April 1, this year, 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 Electoral body, similarly, decided then that it will not monitor any meeting, congress or convention convened on behalf of the African Democratic Congress (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.

These decisions were contained in a statement titled, “INEC’s position on the Court of Appeal NO. CA/ABJ/145/2026: SENATOR DAVID MARK V HON. NAFIU BALA GOMBE & ORS”.

The statement was signed by

Mohammed Kudu Haruna

National Commissioner, Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee.

The INEC’s statement, dated April 1, 2026 indicated that Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, former National Vice Chairman of ADC, through an Originating Summons, instituted Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 before the Federal High Court in Abuja on 2nd September, 2025 for *an order of injunction restraining Senator David Mark’s group (2nd & 3rd Defendants) from parading themselves, dealing or continuing to deal with INEC as National Chairman and Secretary of the 1st Defendant (ADC),

“an order restraining INEC from recognising, dealing with or continuing to deal with the 2nd and 3rd Defendants as the National Chairman and Secretary of the 1st Defendant (ADC), an order directing INEC to recognise the Plaintiff (Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe) as the acting National Chairman of the 1st Defendant (the ADC),

*an order of the Honourable Court restraining INEC from parading the 2nd and 3rd Defendants (Senator David Mark’s group) as officials of the1st Defendant (ADC), etc.

Along with the Originating Summons were Motion Ex Parte and Motion on Notice restraining INEC from recognising Senator David Mark’s group.

The motion ex parte was heard on 4th September, 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 2nd Defendant (Senator David Mark) decided to appeal against the order of Nwite, J. on 18th December, 2025 to the Court of Appeal, Abuja, challenging the jurisdiction of the trial court.

On 12th March, 2026, the Court of Appeal in Abuja ( 6 months after the appeal was filed) dismissed the appeal of the 2nd Defendant and, in addition, made the above-quoted preservatory orders.

The Plaintiff also filed another Motion Ex Parte and Motion on Notice on 15th September, 2025 before the trial court seeking to prevent the 1st Defendant (ADC) from holding, convening or summoning any Convention, Congress, Conference or meeting and to stop the 4th Defendant (INEC) from attending, monitoring, observing, or recognising any activities organised by the 1st Defendant pending the determination of the suit.

The statement stressed that after the Judgment of the Court of Appeal, the Commission received letters from the solicitors to Senator David Mark’s group and Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, making claims and counter-claims to the leadership of the party and making several demands on INEC.

That the Commission equally received on 31st March, 2026, a letter dated 28th March, 2026 from Senator David 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 27th February, 2026.

The statement stressed further that since the names of the current National Working Committee members led by Senator David Mark were uploaded on 9th September, 2025 by INEC (7 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.

In its resolutions, INEC said, “Given the above scenario, at the meeting of the Commission on Tuesday, 31st March, 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 2nd September 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 Hon. Nafiu Bala 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 the affairs of the party and will not monitor any Meeting, Congress or Convention convened on behalf of the African Democratic Congress (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 National Working Committee members led by Senator David Mark were uploaded on 9th September, 2025 by INEC (7 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.