Acting on Appeal Court Order, INEC Removes Mark, Aregbesola’s Names from Its Website

• Commission to shun proposed convention  

•Faction storms electoral body’s office, insists on recognising Nafiu Bala, its national chairman

Adedayo Akinwale and Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

Citing an order of the Court of Appeal, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has deleted from its portal the names of Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively, of African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The electoral body also added that it would not receive any further communication or deal with any of the parties or groups pertaining the affairs of the party and would not monitor any meeting, congress or convention convened on behalf of ADC by any group until the matter was decided by the Federal High Court, Abuja.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, in a statement, said the deci-sion was to ensure it did not act in any way capable of foisting a fait accompli on the court or otherwise rendering nugatory the proceedings before the trial court.

Haruna stressed that the commission was in receipt of a letter from the law firm of Suleiman Usman SAN & Co dated March 16, 2026, titled, “Re: Notice of pending proceedings before the Federal High Court and caution against any purported recognition of Mr. Nafiu Bala Gombe as Acting National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).”

The commission said the letter was written on behalf of concerned stakeholders within ADC.

It also acknowledged receipt of another letter from the law firm of Summit Law Chambers dated March 16, 2026, titled, “Demand for enforcement of the orders made by the Court of Appeal Abuja division in appeal no: ca/ABJ/145/2026 SENATOR David Mark v Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe & 4 ors,” written on behalf of Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe.

Haruna stated that the letter from Suleiman Usman SAN & Co requested the commission not to recognise Mr. Nafiu Bala Gombe as acting National Chairman of ADC on account of the pending litigation in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 before the Federal High Court Abuja, where the question of the leadership of the party was presently being contested.

He stressed that the letter from Summit Law Chambers, on the other hand, attached the certified True Copy of the judgement of the Court of Appeal in Suit No. CA/ABJ/145/2026 Mark v Gombe & Ors and requested the enforcement of the orders made therein and specifically asked INEC to stop recognising Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as National Chairman and National Secretary of ADC.

The court also directed that their names be removed from INEC’s website and refrain from receiving any correspondence from them or attending any of their meetings, congress or convention ordered or authorised by them in line with the preservation orders made by the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/145/2026.

Haruna said the commission further received another letter from the law firm of Summit Law Chambers dated March 27, 2026, titled “Demand for enforcement of the orders made by the Court of Appeal Abuja Division in appeal no: CA/ABJ/145/2026 Mark V Gombe & 4 Ors,” accusing the commission of inviting the Mark group to the political parties meeting hosted by INEC on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 and also monitoring the National Executive Committee meeting of the party in disobedience of the orders of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/145/2026.

Haruna stated, “They further drew the attention of the commission to the motion ex-parte and motion on notice filed by their client on December 15, 2025, seeking to prevent the 1st Defendant (ADC) from holding any convention, congress, conference, or Meeting and to stop INEC from attending, monitoring, observing or recognising any activities of the ADC.

“They accordingly requested INEC to invalidate the NEC meeting held by Senator David Mark’s group on 25th March, 2026, remove the name of Senator David Mark’s group from the INEC portal, stop recognising or acknowledging correspondence from them until the determination of the pending suit before the Federal High Court, Abuja and allow Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe to take over the affairs of ADC pending the determination of the case, and that INEC should respect the orders of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/145/2026.”

Haruna explained that the Court of Appeal, after dismissing the appeal of Mark in the interlocutory appeal, made the following orders:

“Finally, it is necessary to make preservatory orders to ensure that the subject matter of the dispute pending before the trial court is not prejudiced as Courts have inherent powers to control and regulate proceedings to ensure justice.”

He said in order to protect the integrity of the proceedings and the eventual determination of the substantive suit pending before the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, the court ordered that Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, be and is hereby granted accelerated hearing in view of the Electoral Time Table released by the 4th Respondent.

Haruna said the court directed that the parties 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.

The court also awarded the cost of N2 million in favour of the first respondent.

Haruna stated, “The commission, after a careful consideration of the judgement of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/145/2026 and the processes filed by the parties in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 pending before the Federal High Court in Abuja wishes to observe as follows:

“That the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party (ADC) came into being following the National Executive Council meeting of 29th July, 2025 after all the Mr. Ralph Okey Nwosu Exco members resigned and ratified the appointment of the present members of the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Senator David Mark.

“That Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, who was the Vice-National Chairman, denied he ever resigned from the party and claimed that following the resignation of the Chairman of the party Mr. Ralph Okey Nwosu, he Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe automatically ought to take over as the Chairman of the party, being the only Vice-National Chairman left behind in accordance with the constitution of the Party.

“That Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, through an originating summons, instituted Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 before the Federal High Court in Abuja on 2nd September, 2025 for an order of injunction restraining Senator David Mark’s group (2nd & 3rd Defendants) from parading themselves, dealing or continuing to deal with INEC as National Chairman and Secretary of the 1st Defendant (ADC),

“An order restraining INEC from recognising, dealing with or continuing to deal with the 2nd and 3rd Defendants as the National Chairman and Secretary of the 1st Defendant (ADC), an order directing INEC to recognise the Plaintiff (Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe) as the acting National Chairman of the 1st defendant (the ADC), an order of the Honourable Court restraining INEC from parading the 2nd and 3rd Defendants (Senator David Mark’s group) as officials of the1st Defendant (ADC) etc.

“Along with the originating summons were motion ex parte and motion on Notice restraining INEC from recognising Senator David Mark’s group.”

The commission explained that the motion ex parte was heard on September 4, 2025 and the trial Judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, directed that the respondents, including INEC, be put on notice to show cause why the motion ex parte should not be granted.

Haruna stated that the second defendant, Mark, decided to appeal against the order of Nwite, J on December 18, 2025 to the Court of Appeal, Abuja, challenging the jurisdiction of the trial court.

He revealed that on March 12, 2026, the Court of Appeal in Abuja (after about six months the appeal was filed) dismissed the appeal of the second defendant and, in addition, made the above-quoted preservatory orders.

Haruna said the plaintiff also filed another motion ex parte and motion on notice on September 15, 2025 before the trial court seeking to prevent the first defendant (ADC) from holding, convening or summoning any convention, congress, conference or meeting and to stop the fourth defendant (INEC) from attending, monitoring, observing, or recognising any activities organised by the first defendant pending the determination of the suit.

Haruna said after the judgement of the Court of Appeal, the commission received letters from the solicitors to Mark’s group and Gombe, making claims and counter-claims to the leadership of the party and making several demands on INEC.

He added that the commission also received on March 31, 2026 a letter dated March 28, 2026 from Mark’s group notifying the commission of the schedule of ADC Congresses and National Convention as well as the revised schedule of activities earlier contained in their letter of February 27, 2026.

Haruna said the request, through a letter dated July 29, 2025, for the submission of the names of the New Principal Officers of ADC for upload on the commission’s portal was received by INEC on September 4, 2025 and it was approved by INEC on September 9, 2025.

He stated, “Given the above scenario, at the meeting of the Commission on Tuesday, 31st March, 2026, the commission resolved as follows:

“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.

“That the commission would, in accordance with the order of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/145/2026 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, having regard to all the processes filed before the trial court.

“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 commission shall not, given the reliefs claimed in the originating summons and the pending motions, 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 convened on behalf of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) by any group until the matter is decided by the Federal High Court, Abuja so as not to do any act capable of foisting a fait accompli on the court or otherwise rendering nugatory the proceedings before the trial court.

“Since the names of the current National Working Committee members led by Senator David Mark were uploaded on 9th September, 2025 by INEC (7 days after the suit was instituted), the names would be removed from the INEC portal pursuant to the order of the Court of Appeal to maintain the status quo ante bellum until the matter is decided by the trial court.

“Steps be taken to ensure that the originating Summons is heard and determined expeditiously as ordered by the Court of Appeal.”

The commission reiterated its commitment to remain impartial and unbiased and requested the political parties not to do anything that would jeopardise the schedule of activities contained in the INEC timetable for the 2027 election.

ADC Faction Storms INEC Office, Insists on Gombe’s Recognition as National Chairman

A group in ADC yesterday staged a peaceful protest at the headquarters of INEC in Abuja, demanding the recognition of Nafiu Bala Gombe as the party’s national chairman.

The protesters, led by Gombe, called on INEC to comply with a subsisting Court of Appeal judgement and cautioned against any actions capable of undermining ongoing judicial proceedings.

Speaking during the demonstration, Abimiku Monday urged the commission to respect the March 12, 2026 judgement delivered by the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division.

They also called on citizens to stand firm in defending constitutional order, chanting slogans, such as “Obey the Court,” “Respect the Constitution,” and “No to impunity.”

Monday explained that the judgement directed all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum and refrain from actions that could prejudice pending proceedings before the Federal High Court.

He emphasised that the ruling was binding on all authorities, citing Section 287(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandated strict compliance with decisions of the Court of Appeal.

He said the party had formally notified INEC through its legal representatives on March 15, 2026, and followed up with another letter on March 27, demanding full compliance within seven days or risk contempt proceedings against the commission’s leadership.

He said, “The persistent refusal of INEC to comply with a valid court order is a matter of grave concern. This disregard for judicial authority undermines the rule of law and threatens the very foundation of our democracy. It is imperative to recognize that no institution in Nigeria is above the law.

“When a public body, particularly one tasked with overseeing elections, chooses to ignore the orders of a superior court, it sends a dangerous message that the rule of law is optional.

“Such actions not only erode public trust in our institutions but also set a precedent that could have far-reaching implications for the future of our democracy.”

Monday stressed that no institution was above the law, warning that disregard for judicial authority could erode public confidence in democratic institutions and set a dangerous precedent.

Convener of the protest, Abdullahi Ahmed, said the demonstration was aimed at reinforcing the rule of law and protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic system.

Ahmed warned that failure by INEC to comply with the court order could weaken public trust in the electoral body and democratic governance.

Responding, INEC’s Assistant Director of Security, Mohammed Hamma, said the commission’s leadership was currently out of Abuja attending an official engagement in Lagos.

Hamma stated, “Unfortunately, the chairman is not around. They are all in Lagos attending a workshop. INEC does not have anything to hide. If representatives return after the break, they can follow up on the matter.”