The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it will no longer recognize correspondences from either the David Mark-led African Democratic Congress (ADC) faction or that of Rafiu Bala. The decision follows a review of a Court of Appeal judgment delivered on March 12, 2026.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!In a statement signed by the Commission’s Chairman of Information and Voter Education, Mohammed Kudu, INEC noted that it will cease engagement with either faction and will not monitor any meetings, congresses, or conventions of the two groups until the matter is resolved at the Federal High Court. The commission further stated that the names of David Mark would be removed from its official portal.
Rafiu Bala, who served as vice chairman of the ADC before the David Mark-led caretaker committee assumed control, had approached the courts challenging the emergence of David Mark and his colleagues at the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
In 2025, an opposition coalition adopted the African Democratic Congress as its platform to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections. Following this, former ADC national chairman Ralph Nwosu formally handed over the party’s membership card to former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who were appointed interim national chairman and national secretary, respectively.
The resignation of the Ralph Nwosu-led NWC in July 2025 paved the way for the David Mark-led NWC. However, Nafiu Bala Gombe, the Vice-National Chairman, argued that he should automatically assume the chairmanship following the resignation.
Bala Gombe filed Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 on September 2, 2025, seeking an ex parte injunction to prevent Senator David Mark’s group from presenting themselves as the party leadership. The motion was heard on September 4, 2025, with trial judge Justice Emeka Nwite directing that the respondents be put on notice.
Senator David Mark, as the second defendant, appealed the order on December 18, 2025. The Court of Appeal in Abuja, however, dismissed the appeal on March 12, 2026.
Following the ruling, INEC stated that the decision influenced its choice to maintain the status quo ante bellum, based on the facts existing prior to September 2, 2025, when the case was originally filed.