INEC has updated its website to recognise the David Mark-led National Working Committee of the African Democratic Congress. The update, observed around 9:58 p.m. on Thursday, also listed Rauf Aregbesola as national secretary, Mani Ibrahim Ahmad as national treasurer, Akibu Dalhatu as national financial secretary, and Oserheimen Aigberaodion Osunbor as national legal adviser.
For weeks, the ADC has been trapped in a bitter leadership dispute. Two factions claimed legitimacy. INEC refused to recognise either. The commission had removed the Mark-led executive from its portal, saying it would not recognise any faction while the case was in court.
Now, that position has shifted. And the beneficiary is David Mark.
The Court Ruling That Changed Everything
The update comes hours after the Supreme Court set aside a Court of Appeal ruling that had ordered parties in the ADC leadership dispute to maintain the status quo ante bellum. In a unanimous decision, the apex court directed all parties to return to the Federal High Court for the hearing of the substantive suit.
Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, who delivered the judgment, held that the lower court was right to ask defendants to show cause why the ex parte application should not be granted. The dispute began after an aggrieved member, Nafiu Bala Gombe, filed a suit challenging the emergence of Mark as ADC national chairman and asked the court to stop his faction from acting as the party’s leadership.
The Supreme Court did not rule on the merits of who should lead the ADC. It simply set aside the Appeal Court’s status quo order and sent the case back to the Federal High Court. But that procedural ruling was enough for INEC. Within hours, the commission restored the Mark-led faction to its website.
The message is clear: INEC is not waiting for a final judgment. It is acting on the current state of play.
What This Means for the ADC
The recognition by INEC is not a final determination of the leadership dispute. The case continues at the Federal High Court. The opposing faction — led by those who dispute Mark’s chairmanship — could still prevail. But recognition matters.
INEC’s website is the official source for party leadership information. When the commission lists a faction, that faction has access to party identification numbers, nomination portals, and other electoral infrastructure. The opposing faction loses that access.
For David Mark, the update is a major victory. His faction is now the one INEC deals with. His national secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, is the one INEC recognises. The opposing faction is effectively locked out of the system unless the court later reverses the decision.
For Nafiu Bala Gombe, who filed the original suit, the update is a setback. His challenge is still alive in court. But INEC has signalled that it will not wait for a final resolution before acting.
The Bigger Picture
The ADC has been positioning itself as a serious opposition force ahead of 2027. It has attracted major political figures. It has defied INEC to hold its national convention. But the leadership crisis has been a persistent vulnerability. An opposition party that cannot decide who is in charge is not a credible threat to the ruling party.
INEC’s recognition of the Mark-led faction provides clarity — at least for now. The commission has made its choice. The opposing faction can continue its court challenge. But while that challenge proceeds, Mark’s team controls the party’s official interface with INEC.
The timing is also significant. The 2027 election cycle is approaching. Party primaries will be scheduled. Nomination forms will be sold. A party without recognised leadership cannot participate effectively. INEC’s decision removes that obstacle for the Mark-led ADC.
The Bottom Line
INEC has updated its website to recognise the David Mark-led National Working Committee of the African Democratic Congress. The update, observed late Thursday, also lists Rauf Aregbesola as national secretary and other officials in key positions. The change comes hours after the Supreme Court set aside a Court of Appeal ruling that had ordered parties in the dispute to maintain the status quo. The apex court sent the case back to the Federal High Court for substantive hearing.
The leadership dispute is not over. The opposing faction can still press its case in court. But for now, INEC has chosen its side. David Mark’s faction is the one the commission will deal with. And in Nigerian politics, that recognition is power.
