By Seyi Odewale
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has struck out the names of David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its official portal as National Chairman and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), intensifying the leadership tussle rocking the opposition party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Commission also declined to recognise Nafiu Bala Gombe, who is seeking judicial affirmation as national chairman, effectively placing all contending factions of the party in abeyance pending the resolution of the legal dispute.
INEC said it would neither recognise nor monitor conventions, congresses or other statutory meetings organised by any of the rival blocs, insisting that the courts must first resolve the conflicting claims to leadership.
National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mallam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said the decision was taken to preserve the integrity of the judicial process and prevent actions capable of undermining the pending suit.
“The Commission remains committed to neutrality and will not take any step capable of prejudicing the outcome of the matter before the court,” he said, stressing that political actors must avoid actions that could disrupt preparations for the 2027 polls.
INEC explained that the decision followed the Court of Appeal’s judgment in Suit No. CA/ABJ/145/2026, which complicated the dispute and necessitated maintaining the status quo pending the Federal High Court’s determination of the substantive matter.
The electoral body disclosed that it received a letter dated March 16, 2026, from Suleiman Usman SAN & Co, cautioning against recognising Gombe as acting national chairman while the legal contest subsists.
It also confirmed receipt of a separate demand from Summit Law Chambers, representing Gombe, urging the Commission to expunge the names of Mark and Aregbesola from its records and discontinue any engagement with them in their claimed capacities.
Faced with conflicting legal pressures from the rival camps, INEC said suspending recognition of all factions became the most prudent administrative step to avoid being drawn into the internal leadership crisis.
The development underscores deepening divisions within the ADC, with analysts warning that prolonged litigation could weaken the party’s organisational stability as political realignments intensify ahead of the next general elections.
In providing a wider context, the ADC has previously alleged attempts by political opponents to exploit its internal divisions, warning that the leadership dispute risks undermining opposition cohesion if not urgently resolved.
