Court Rejects Move to Halt INEC Recognition of Mark, Aregbesola as ADC Leaders
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The leadership tussle within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) took a dramatic turn yesterday after the Federal High Court in Abuja refused an ex parte application seeking to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising former Senate President David Mark and ex-Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola as the party’s national chairman and national secretary.
The application, filed by former ADC deputy national chairman Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, had sought interim injunctions restraining INEC from recognising Mark and Aregbesola.
However, Justice Emeka Nwite declined the prayers, ruling that the defendants must first be put on notice to show cause why the reliefs should not be granted. The matter was adjourned until September 15, 2025.
INEC had earlier updated its records to reflect Mark and Aregbesola as the duly recognised national leaders of the party following the formal handover of the party by former chairman Ralph Nwosu to the opposition coalition movement in July.
ADC Denies Court Restraint Order
Reacting to reports that the court had restrained Mark and Aregbesola, ADC national publicity secretary Malam Bolaji Abdullahi dismissed the claims as fake news.
“The Honourable Court refused the ex parte application and directed that the matter proceed with due process. At no point did the court restrain Sen. David Mark or Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola from functioning as our national chairman and national secretary,” Abdullahi said.
He accused aggrieved party members of misrepresenting the court’s ruling, describing them as “political jobbers” bent on destabilising the ADC.
Aggrieved Members Hail Court Action
But the opposing faction welcomed the development, insisting the court ruling had vindicated their position. Dr. Christopher O. Okechukwu, who described himself as ADC’s director of media and public affairs, said the order “restraining Sen. David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, and others from parading themselves as national executive members” was a victory for internal order.
He urged stakeholders to rally behind Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe as national chairman, announcing plans for a fresh membership registration exercise to reposition the party.
Tensions Spread to States
The leadership crisis has also spilled to the grassroots, with ADC local government chairmen in Owerri Zone and a group in Kogi State warning against alleged attempts to hijack party structures.
In Owerri Zone, seven LGA chairmen issued a communiqué vowing to resist what they called “brazen subversion” of the ADC constitution.
Similarly, in Kogi, a faction loyal to Rt. Hon. Leke Abejide accused “strange interlopers” of plotting to invade and destabilise the party. The group warned that any unconstitutional takeover attempt would be resisted “using every legal and constitutional instrument.”
As the September 15 hearing approaches, the ADC remains divided, with one faction celebrating INEC’s recognition of Mark and Aregbesola, and another insisting the court has clipped their wings.
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