ADC leadership crisis INEC court order: David Mark asks court to reverse INEC’s derecognition of ADC leadership and restore party NWC names
The David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), on Friday in Abuja, Nigeria, approached the Federal High Court seeking an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reverse its decision derecognising the party’s leadership structure and restoring the names of its National Working Committee members.
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The move intensifies the ADC leadership crisis INEC court order dispute, following INEC’s earlier removal of the names of Senator David Mark as National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary from its official portal and website.
In the motion on notice filed by senior lawyer Sulaiman Usman, SAN, the ADC leadership asked Justice Emeka Nwite to grant a mandatory injunction setting aside INEC’s decision and directing the commission to recognise and restore the party’s leadership records pending determination of the substantive suit.
The application also sought an order compelling INEC to attend and monitor ADC congresses and conventions, which the party argued had been unlawfully disregarded by the electoral body.
Usman further asked the court to direct INEC to restore the names of all members of the National Working Committee to the commission’s records, describing the removal as procedurally flawed and legally unjustified.
The legal team argued that the Court of Appeal had earlier directed parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum, which it defined as the last uncontested state of affairs before the dispute arose.
According to the motion, David Mark was the recognised National Chairman at the time the action was instituted, while Rauf Aregbesola served as National Secretary, forming the party’s legitimate leadership structure.
The ADC leadership contended that INEC acted under a misinterpretation of court orders, resulting in the creation of a leadership vacuum and internal uncertainty within the party.
The lawyers maintained that the situation risked undermining democratic processes, warning that continued non-recognition could render the substantive case meaningless.
The application also requested accelerated hearing of the suit, arguing that the leadership dispute has significant implications for political stability and internal party administration.
Justice Emeka Nwite had previously declined to grant an ex parte application seeking to halt the Mark-led leadership, instead ordering parties to respond and adjourned the matter for further hearing.
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The case, which continues to draw attention within political circles, centres on competing claims over ADC leadership and INEC’s role in party recognition amid ongoing legal proceedings.
