The Independent National Electoral Commission is set to rock the foundation of the African Democratic Congress, with threats to delete has moved to delete the names of David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its records as National Chairman and National Secretary of the party respectively.
The ADC had been raising allegations of credible information targeted at destabilising the party by the ruling All Progressives Congress using the electoral umpire.
The party stated that the growing influenec and popularity of the ADC is giving the APC sleepless nights and the plans now is to create confusion and crisis within the party like it had done in other parties.
INEC also announced that it would not recognise Nafiu Bala Gombe, who is seeking to assume leadership of the party through the courts, and that it would suspend recognition of all conventions and congresses organised by the Mark-Aregbesola faction pending the determination of the substantive suit before the Federal High Court.
The commission said its decision followed the ongoing leadership tussle within the party and the recent judgment of the Court of Appeal in Suit No. CA/ABJ/145/2026, noting that it would remain neutral and guided strictly by legal processes.
In a statement, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, reiterated the commission’s commitment to impartiality and urged political actors to avoid actions that could disrupt preparations for the 2027 general elections.
INEC disclosed that it received multiple legal communications from opposing factions, including a notice from Suleiman Usman (SAN) & Co cautioning against recognising Gombe as acting national chairman, as well as a “Demand for Enforcement” from Summit Law Chambers seeking the removal of Mark and Aregbesola from its portal.
The commission, however, declined the request by Gombe’s legal team to immediately recognise him as party leader, stating that the matter remains before the court and must be resolved through due process.
While the matter is in court, INEC timeline for conduct of congresses and primaries will not be waiting for the party giving credence to the allegations of the ADC that there are grand design to stop them by all means.
