The leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by Senator David Mark has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to reverse its recent derecognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This legal challenge follows the electoral commission’s decision on April 1 to remove the names of Senator Mark, serving as the National Chairman, and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the National Secretary, from its official website and records.
The legal action, brought before Justice Emeka Nwite, urges the court to issue a mandatory injunction compelling INEC to restore the National Working Committee of the ADC in its database. The suit, filed on April 7 by counsel Sulaiman Usman, SAN, also seeks to stop the electoral umpire from interfering with the party’s leadership structure or monitoring its internal congresses until the substantive case is resolved.
This conflict stems from a March 12 Court of Appeal judgment regarding a separate suit instituted by Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe. In that ruling, the appellate court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum, which the ADC leadership interprets as a directive to return to the state of affairs existing prior to the initial litigation. Lawyer Sulaiman Usman argued that as of September 2, 2025, when the action commenced, Senator Mark was the legally recognised chairman.
Counsel for the party argued that INEC acted under a misapprehension of the appellate court’s order by removing the names from its portal. By adopting a position of non-recognition, the commission effectively created a leadership vacuum that potentially threatens the party’s internal administration and political participation. The legal team maintained that a mandatory injunction is essential at this interlocutory stage to restore the party officials to their rightful positions and prevent further prejudice.
In addition to the main suit, the ADC leadership has filed a separate motion seeking an accelerated hearing on a day-to-day basis. The party management emphasised that the current uncertainty surrounding its leadership is causing substantial institutional confusion and could render the subject matter of the case nugatory if left unresolved. They contend that the Court of Appeal specifically requested an expeditious determination of the matter due to its significance for democratic governance.
The ongoing dispute remains a critical test for party management and internal stability, as the Federal High Court prepares to resolve these conflicting claims between the party leadership and the commission. The outcome of these proceedings is expected to provide much-needed clarity on the official leadership status of the ADC and determine how the party moves forward in its future political engagements.
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