Nigeria’s electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has effectively placed the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in institutional limbo, suspending recognition of all factions amid an intensifying leadership battle.
In a decisive move, the commission removed David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its official records as National Chairman and National Secretary of the party, while also declining to recognise Nafiu Bala Gombe, who is seeking legitimacy through the courts.
Rather than back any of the competing camps, INEC announced a blanket suspension of recognition, effectively freezing the party’s leadership structure and halting its formal political activities.
The commission said it would not monitor any conventions or congresses organised by factions within the party until the leadership dispute is conclusively resolved by the Federal High Court.
The decision follows a protracted internal crisis, further complicated by a recent judgment of the Court of Appeal in Suit No. CA/ABJ/145/2026, which has added legal complexity to the struggle for control of the party.
INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said the commission’s position is guided strictly by neutrality and respect for due process.
He cautioned political actors against escalating tensions in ways that could undermine preparations for the 2027 general elections.
At the heart of INEC’s decision are conflicting legal communications from rival camps. The commission disclosed that it received a letter dated March 16, 2026, from Suleiman Usman SAN & Co, warning against recognising Gombe as acting chairman while litigation is ongoing.
In contrast, Summit Law Chambers, representing Gombe, issued a “Demand for Enforcement,” urging INEC to expunge the names of Mark and Aregbesola from its records and cease all official dealings with them.
Faced with these competing claims, INEC opted to disengage entirely from the dispute, signalling that only a clear judicial pronouncement can determine the party’s legitimate leadership.
The move underscores the growing impact of internal party conflicts on Nigeria’s electoral process, as unresolved disputes increasingly force the commission into difficult regulatory positions.
For the ADC, the implication is immediate and significant: until the courts deliver a final verdict, the party remains sidelined in terms of official recognition—unable to conduct valid congresses or conventions under INEC supervision.
As the legal battle unfolds, the crisis not only threatens the party’s internal cohesion but also raises broader questions about stability within Nigeria’s multi-party system ahead of the next electoral cycle.
INEC freezes ADC leadership, delists Mark, Aregbesola amid crisis
