African Democratic Congress takes legal action against electoral commission, seeking acknowledgment of Mark and Aregbesola's legitimacy.

African Democratic Congress, ADC, has taken a significant step by filing a suit at a Federal High Court in Abuja, requesting the court to order the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to reinstate Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as the party's National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.

The suit, which bears the case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, was filed in response to the removal of their names, along with other National Working Committee members, from INEC's official portal on April 1.

In a motion on notice dated April 7, counsel to Mark, Sulaiman Usman, SAN, requested the court to issue a mandatory injunction directing INEC to reinstate the affected officials to their positions prior to the dispute.

The application, brought under Order 26 Rules 1 to 4 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019, as well as the court's inherent jurisdiction, seeks three principal reliefs, including an order to set aside INEC's decision to remove the names of the applicant's National Working Committee from its official portal.

The relief also includes an order directing INEC to restore and maintain records of the names of Senator David Mark as National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, as well as all members of the National Executive Committee.

The plaintiff further prayed the court for an order restraining INEC from tampering with or interfering with the said leadership records, or recognising any contrary or competing claims, pending the final determination of the suit.

The suit arose from the March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal in a leadership dispute initiated by a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Nafiu Gombe, before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court.

In a supporting affidavit, Usman argued that the appellate court had directed parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum, which refers to the last uncontested state of affairs before the dispute.

Meanwhile, immediate past National Chairman of the ADC, Ralph Nwosu, stated that the party will continue preparations for its convention and congresses, and will not be distracted by the leadership crisis rocking the party.

Nwosu, who is backing the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the ADC, spoke during an interview on Channels Television, on the same day that the Nafiu Gombe-led faction of the party held a counter-protest at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, alleged that the Professor Joash Amupitan-led INEC is attempting to crown President Bola Tinubu, while a chieftain of the ADC, Mr Kenneth Okonkwo, added that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, does not want elections in 2027.

Nwosu insisted that the ADC is moving on with its plans ahead of the 2027 general elections, despite INEC's de-recognition of the Mark and Gombe camps, citing a court order.

Nwosu stated that the party has taken necessary actions, both in court and with INEC, and will not allow INEC to derail any of its programmes, adding that the congresses have already started and the national convention will go on as planned.

Gombe, who is also laying claim to the party's national chairmanship, led a counter-protest in Abuja, pressing the electoral commission for recognition and warning rival actors to steer clear of the party's affairs.

Gombe stood with Leke Joseph Abejide, a member of the House of Representatives, during the demonstration, which climaxed at the headquarters of the INEC, where they addressed supporters and restated their demand for official recognition.

Gombe urged INEC to comply with what he described as a Court of Appeal order preserving the status quo ante bellum, specifically asking the commission to reflect his position on its official records.

ADC Chieftain, Kenneth Okonkwo, accused the ruling APC of plotting to undermine opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, alleging that the APC is using state institutions and internal collaborators to destabilise the ADC.