The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it will no longer accept correspondences from either faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by Senator David Mark or Nafiu Bala Gombe, following a review of the March 12 Court of Appeal judgement.
In a statement on Wednesday, Mohammed Kudu, INEC Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, said the commission will also refrain from engaging with both groups or monitoring their meetings, congresses, and conventions pending the determination of the case before the Federal High Court.
Kudu said the commission received a letter from the law firm of Suleiman Usman SAN & Co. dated March 16, 2026, titled, “RE: Notice of pending proceedings before the Federal High Court and caution against any purported recognition of Mr Nafiu Bala Gombe as acting national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC),” written on behalf of concerned stakeholders within the ADC.
He added that the commission also received a letter from Summit Law Chambers, also dated March 16, titled, “DEMAND FOR ENFORCEMENT OF THE ORDERS MADE BY THE COURT OF APPEAL, ABUJA DIVISION IN APPEAL NO: CA/ABJ/145/2026: SENATOR DAVID MARK V HON. NAFIU BALA GOMBE & 4 ORS,” written on behalf of Gombe.
Kudu noted that while Suleiman Usman SAN & Co. urged the commission not to recognise Gombe as acting national chairman of the ADC due to a pending suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja, Summit Law Chambers took a contrary position.
“The latter attached a certified true copy of the judgement of the Court of Appeal in the suit between David Mark and Gombe and requested the commission to enforce the ruling,” he said.
He added, “The law firm’s requests include ceasing recognition of Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Chairman and National Secretary respectively of ADC; removing their names from the Commission’s portal; and refraining from dealing with or recognising any actions taken by them in respect of the party in line with the preservation orders made by the Court of Appeal.”
Kudu further stated that Summit Law Chambers, in a letter dated March 27, 2026, alleged that INEC had acted in disobedience of the Court of Appeal’s orders, noting that the commission erred by “inviting Senator David Mark’s group to a political parties’ meeting held on Tuesday, 24th March, 2026; and monitoring a purported National Executive Committee meeting of that group.”
He said the solicitors also referenced motions filed on December 15, 2025, seeking to restrain the ADC from holding any convention, congress, conference, or meeting, and to stop INEC from recognising any of its activities.
“They subsequently asked the commission to invalidate the National Executive Committee meeting held by Mark’s group on March 25, remove the group’s name from the INEC portal, and stop recognising or acknowledging correspondence from them pending the determination of the suit before the Federal High Court, Abuja,” Kudu added.
He said the firm also urged INEC to allow Gombe to take over the affairs of the party pending the resolution of the case and to comply with the orders of the Court of Appeal in appeal number CA/ABJ/145/2026.
The commission noted that the orders of the Court of Appeal are central to the ADC leadership dispute. According to INEC, the appellate court on March 12 dismissed an interlocutory appeal filed by Mark and issued several preservatory orders.
“Finally, it is necessary to make preservatory orders to ensure that the subject matter of the dispute pending before the trial court is not prejudiced as courts have inherent powers to control and regulate proceedings to ensure justice… The court said the orders were necessary to protect the integrity of the proceedings and the eventual determination of the substantive suit pending before the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025,” the statement reads.
“The parties are hereby directed to maintain the status quo ante bellum and shall 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.”
The commission observed that the current National Working Committee of the party emerged from a National Executive Committee meeting held on July 29, 2025, after members of the Ralph Okey Nwosu-led executive resigned and ratified a new leadership headed by Mark.
INEC noted that Gombe, who was vice-national chairman, denied resigning and argued that he ought to have assumed leadership following Nwosu’s resignation, in line with the party’s constitution. He subsequently approached the Federal High Court on September 2, 2025, seeking to restrain Mark’s group from parading themselves as national chairman and secretary, and to direct INEC to recognise him as acting national chairman.
The commission added that it received multiple letters from solicitors to both parties, making competing claims to the party’s leadership.
In its resolutions, INEC said it would strictly abide by the orders of the Court of Appeal in handling the leadership dispute. The commission resolved “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.”
INEC further stated, “The Commission shall not 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 African Democratic Congress (ADC) by any group until the matter is decided by the Federal High Court, Abuja.”
It noted that the names of the current National Working Committee members led by Senator David Mark, which were uploaded on September 9, 2025, would be removed from the INEC portal pursuant to the Court of Appeal’s order to maintain the status quo ante bellum.
The commission reiterated its “unwavering commitment to neutrality, impartiality and strict compliance with judicial orders,” urging political parties and stakeholders to act in ways that do not jeopardise the electoral timetable for the 2027 general election.
