The David Mark-led African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) interpretation of the Court of Appeal ruling on the party’s leadership dispute.
In a statement issued on Wednesday evening, Bolaji
Abdullahi, ADC national publicity secretary, alleged that the “electoral body
acted under pressure from a government panicked by the opposition momentum
despite its efforts to destroy all opposition parties and foist a one-party
rule on Nigeria”.
“We reject INEC’s interpretation of the Court of Appeal
ruling. We knew that INEC was being pressured by a government that has become
jittery from the ADC’s rising momentum even in the face of its relentless
assault on all opposition parties,” the statement reads.
“INEC’s press statement is full of contradictions that fly
in the face of both facts and reason. We shall clarify these contradictions for
all to see. What is clear, however, is that INEC has caved to pressure and has
chosen to side with the government against the Nigerian people.”
Abdullahi said the party is currently reviewing its options
and will announce its next steps soon.
He urged party members and the public to remain steadfast as
events unfold.
Abdullahi called on all members of the party to remain
steadfast as they await further directives.
“Nigeria is rising, ADC is rising,” he said.
BACKGROUND
In a statement on Wednesday, Mohammed Kudu, INEC’s
commissioner for information and voter education, said the commission would no
longer accept correspondence from either faction of the ADC led by Mark or
Rafiu Bala, following its review of the March 12 court of appeal judgement.
He also said INEC will refrain from engaging with both
groups or monitoring their meetings, congresses, and conventions pending the
determination of the case before the federal high court.
Kudu said INEC received two letters on March 16, 2026, but
with contradicting positions on the ADC leadership disputes.
OBSERVATIONS AND RESOLUTIONS BY INEC
In its statement, INEC made a series of observations and
resolutions regarding the ADC’s lingering legal disputes.
The commission observed that the current national working
committee (NWC) of the party emerged from a national executive committee (NEC)
meeting held on July 29, 2025, after members of the Ralph Okey Nwosu-led
executive resigned and ratified a new leadership headed by Mark.
INEC noted that Gombe, who was vice-national chairman,
denied resigning from the party and argued that he ought to have assumed
leadership following the resignation of Nwosu, in line with the party’s
constitution.
The commission said Gombe subsequently approached the
federal high court in Abuja on September 2, 2025, seeking an order restraining
Mark’s group from parading themselves as national chairman and secretary of the
party, as well as an order directing INEC to recognise him as acting national
chairman.
It said the motion ex parte was heard on September 4, 2025,
after which Emeka Nwite, the presiding judge, directed the respondents,
including INEC, to show cause why the application should not be granted.
The commission further noted that Mark appealed the order on
December 18, 2025, challenging the jurisdiction of the trial court, but the
court of appeal dismissed the appeal on March 12, 2026, and issued preservatory
orders.
In its resolutions, INEC said it would abide strictly by the
orders of the court of appeal in handling the leadership dispute within the
ADC.
The commission said that at its meeting on Tuesday, it
resolved “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”.
INEC added that it would “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,” in line with the
appellate court’s directive.
The commission concluded by reaffirming “its unwavering
commitment to neutrality, impartiality and strict compliance with judicial
orders”.
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