The Independent National Electoral Commission has removed the David Mark-led Executive Council of the African Democratic Congress from its portal and vowed not to recognize any leadership of the party pending determination of a suit at the Federal High Court.
The Commission made this announcement on Wednesday after a meeting on Abuja.
INEC said the decision was in obedience to a Court of Appeal ruling delibered in March this year.
Nafiu Bala and the Mark-led leadership of the ADC have been at loggerheads over the true leadership of the party.
In a lengthy statement by the Mohammed Kudu Haruna, INEC National Commissioner, Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, the Electoral umpire narrated the plethora of suits and rulings on ADC crisis.
The Commission said, “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.”
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