INEC Removes ADC Leaders Mark, Aregbesola from Portal Amid Crisis
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has removed the names of David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its official portal as National Chairman and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), respectively. The commission also stated it will not recognise Nafiu Bala Gombe, who is seeking court recognition as national chairman. This suspension of recognition for all ADC factions will remain until the Federal High Court resolves the substantive suit. The move follows a recent Court of Appeal judgment (CA/ABJ/145/2026) that complicated an existing leadership dispute.
INEC’s decision means it will not monitor any ADC conventions or congresses organised by groups aligned with the affected leaders. This effectively freezes the party’s official activities with the 2027 general elections approaching. The commission received conflicting legal demands: a March 16, 2026 letter from Suleiman Usman SAN & Co warning against recognising Gombe, and a separate “Demand for Enforcement” from Summit Law Chambers representing Gombe, which urged removal of Mark and Aregbesola.
The crisis leaves ADC members in limbo, with no clear valid leadership recognised by the electoral body. INEC’s National Commissioner, Mallam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, reaffirmed the Commission’s neutrality and urged political stakeholders to avoid actions that could disrupt election preparations. With the party unable to conduct legitimate internal processes, its ability to present candidates in 2027 is now uncertain unless the courts intervene soon.
ADC members and supporters should monitor the Federal High Court case for a definitive ruling. Until then, any party activities conducted under Mark, Aregbesola, or Gombe’s claimed authority lack INEC recognition and may be invalidated later. How will ADC’s grassroots navigate this uncertainty while ensuring their political interests are not sidelined in 2027?
SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/04/01/adc-inec-strikes-out-david-mark-aregbesolas-names-from-portal/