A fresh legal battle is unfolding over the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as the faction led by David Mark has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge actions taken by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The suit centers on INEC’s decision to remove the names of key party officials, including Mark as National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, from its official portal—an action the applicants argue has created uncertainty within the party’s leadership structure.
In a motion filed before Justice Emeka Nwite, the ADC is seeking a mandatory injunction compelling INEC to reverse the changes and restore its National Working Committee members to the commission’s records pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The party is also challenging INEC’s refusal to monitor its congresses and convention, describing the move as inconsistent with a subsisting directive of the Court of Appeal.
According to the applicants, the appellate court had earlier ordered all parties to maintain the “status quo ante bellum”—the last uncontested state of affairs before the dispute. However, counsel to the Mark-led faction, Sulaiman Usman, argued that INEC misinterpreted that directive by adopting a position of non-recognition and effectively removing the party’s leadership from its system.
The legal team contends that the electoral body’s actions risk undermining the subject matter of the case and could trigger parallel leadership claims within the party if left unaddressed.
Beyond seeking immediate restoration of its leadership records, the ADC is also pushing for an accelerated hearing of the case, warning that prolonged uncertainty could disrupt its internal administration and weaken its participation in the political process.
The dispute traces back to an earlier suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, which challenged the legitimacy of the current leadership. While the trial court had declined to grant an ex parte order against the Mark-led executives, the matter escalated to the Court of Appeal, which directed all parties to maintain the existing structure pending resolution.
Legal analysts note that the current application represents a critical phase in the dispute, as the court’s decision on whether to grant interim relief could effectively determine which faction exercises operational control of the party in the short term.
At stake is more than just internal party leadership—it is a test of regulatory authority, judicial interpretation, and political legitimacy within Nigeria’s party system.
As the case progresses, attention will be on how the court balances the need to preserve party stability with adherence to legal processes, especially in a pre-election period where internal cohesion is crucial.
For the ADC, the immediate objective is clear: reclaim institutional recognition. For INEC, the challenge lies in navigating a legally sensitive dispute without appearing to take sides.
The outcome could set a precedent for how electoral authorities manage internal party conflicts going forward