The leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has taken a legal turn as former Senate President, David Mark, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to overturn recent actions taken by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding the party’s leadership records.
In a motion filed before Justice Emeka Nwite, the Mark-led faction is asking the court to compel INEC to restore the names of its National Working Committee members—particularly Mark as National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary—on its official portal.
The party also wants the court to restrain the commission from recognising any competing leadership claims until the matter is finally resolved.
INEC had earlier removed the names of the party leaders from its website on April 1, a move linked to an ongoing dispute over the ADC’s internal leadership structure and a prior Court of Appeal judgment delivered on March 12.
Through his counsel, Sulaiman Usman, SAN, Mark argued that the electoral body’s action was a misinterpretation of the appellate court’s directive, which ordered parties to maintain the “status quo ante bellum”—the last uncontested position before the dispute began.
According to the motion, the Mark-led leadership was the recognised structure of the party at the time the case was filed, and INEC’s decision has allegedly created confusion and uncertainty within the party’s administration.
The application further urges the court to grant a mandatory injunction reversing INEC’s action and to direct the commission to maintain the party’s existing leadership records.
It also seeks an accelerated hearing of the case, citing the urgency of resolving what it describes as a matter with far-reaching implications for democratic participation and party stability.
Justice Nwite had previously declined an earlier ex parte request aimed at stopping the Mark-led leadership, instead directing that all parties be put on notice.
The suit, originally filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, continues to draw attention as it highlights the deepening divisions within the ADC and the broader questions surrounding internal party democracy and electoral regulation.
As the legal proceedings continue, the outcome is expected to shape not only the future of the ADC but also set a precedent for how political party leadership disputes are interpreted and managed within Nigeria’s democratic framework.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
