ADC Crisis Deepens As INEC Moves To Delist NWC, Reject Convention

The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has taken a fresh turn as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced plans to remove the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) from its official portal and refrain from monitoring any of its activities pending the determination of an ongoing court case.

In a detailed press statement issued on Wednesday, INEC said its decision followed a careful review of the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/145/2026 and the various legal processes filed by parties in the suit before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The Commission disclosed that it had received conflicting communications from legal representatives of the opposing factions within the ADC leadership tussle.

One of the letters, dated March 16, 2026, from Suleiman Usman SAN & Co., cautioned INEC against recognising Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe as acting National Chairman due to a pending suit challenging the party’s leadership.

Another letter, also dated March 16, 2026, from Summit Law Chambers, acting on behalf of Gombe, urged the Commission to enforce the Court of Appeal judgment, including “ceasing recognition of Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Chairman and National Secretary respectively of ADC” and “removing their names from the Commission’s portal.”

Summit Law Chambers further accused INEC of disobeying court orders by engaging with the faction led by Senator David Mark, including inviting the group to a political parties’ meeting and monitoring its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

The dispute stems from a leadership struggle that followed the resignation of the former ADC executive led by Ralph Okey Nwosu. While INEC noted that a new NWC led by Senator David Mark emerged after a National Executive Committee meeting on July 29, 2025, Gombe, who was Vice-National Chairman, has insisted he never resigned and should automatically assume leadership in line with the party’s constitution.

Gombe subsequently approached the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking, among other reliefs, “an order restraining INEC from recognising, dealing with or continuing to deal with” the Mark-led leadership and “an order directing INEC to recognise the Plaintiff (Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe) as the acting National Chairman.”

Delivering judgment on March 12, 2026, the Court of Appeal dismissed an interlocutory appeal filed by Senator David Mark and issued preservatory orders directing all parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The court held: “That 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.”

Based on this, INEC said it resolved at its meeting on March 31, 2026, to strictly comply with the court’s directive.

“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,” the Commission stated.

INEC further emphasised that it would avoid taking any action that could prejudice the ongoing court proceedings.

“That the Commission would… refrain from taking any step or doing any act capable of foisting a fait accompli on the court,” it said.

Consequently, the electoral body rejected requests to recognise Gombe as acting chairman and announced a sweeping disengagement from all factions within the party.

“The Commission refused to accede to the request of the Plaintiff’s Solicitors to allow Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe to take over the affairs of ADC pending the determination of the case,” the statement noted.

It added: “The Commission shall not… receive any further communication or deal with any of the parties or groups pertaining the affairs of the party and will not monitor any Meeting, Congress or Convention… until the matter is decided by the Federal High Court, Abuja.”

INEC also confirmed that the names of the current NWC led by Senator David Mark, which were uploaded on September 9, 2025, would be removed from its portal in compliance with the court order.

“Since the names of the current National Working Committee members led by Senator David Mark were uploaded… 7 days after the suit was instituted, the names would be removed… to maintain the status quo ante bellum,” the Commission explained.

Reaffirming its neutrality, INEC urged political actors to exercise restraint and respect the judicial process.

“The Commission reiterates its unwavering commitment to neutrality, impartiality and strict compliance with judicial orders,” it stated, warning that stakeholders must “conduct themselves in a manner that does not jeopardise the Electoral Time Table for the 2027 General Election.”