The African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by Senator David Mark, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove its top officials from official records.
The case followed INEC’s deletion of the names of David Mark as National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary from its portal on April 1.
In a motion filed on April 7, Mark, through his lawyer, Sulaiman Usman (SAN), asked the court to order INEC to restore the names of the party’s National Working Committee members as they were before the dispute.
Part of the request reads, “An order of mandatory injunction, setting aside the decision, act, or directive of the respondent removing the names of the applicant’s National Working Committee from its official portal.”
The group also asked the court to compel INEC to recognise and maintain the names of Mark and Aregbesola, along with other members of the National Executive Committee.
In addition, they want the court to restrain INEC from interfering with the party’s leadership records or recognising any rival claims until the case is determined.
The legal action follows a Court of Appeal judgment on March 12 in a related dispute involving a former deputy national chairman of the party, Nafiu Gombe.
Usman argued that the appellate court had directed all parties to maintain the status quo pending the resolution of the dispute.
He said, “As of Sept. 2, 2025, when this action was instituted, the 2nd defendant (Senator David Mark) was the recognised national chairman.”
He accused INEC of misinterpreting the court’s ruling by removing the names, saying the move created confusion within the party.
According to him, “The law is settled that a mandatory injunction may be granted… to restore a party to the position wrongfully altered.”
The lawyer also asked for an expedited hearing of the case, warning that the ongoing leadership crisis is affecting the party’s activities and could lead to parallel structures.
He said, “The continued pendency of the suit is capable of rendering the subject matter nugatory.”
Court records show the dispute began in September 2025 when Gombe filed a suit challenging the party’s leadership.
The trial court later ordered all parties to respond, while the Court of Appeal directed that the status quo be maintained.
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