Opposition Grows After INEC Revokes Recognition of David Mark’s ADC Leadership
…Obedient Movement, ADC Youth to Protest INEC Decision The announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to acknowledge David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as the...
…Obedient Movement, ADC Youth to Protest INEC Decision
The announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to acknowledge David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as the party’s chairman and secretary has sparked considerable discontent and opposition from among members of the coalition populating the African Democratic Congress.
This decision comes following an INEC meeting in which correspondence from the legal representatives of the party led by David Mark and from Rafiu Bala Gombe, the party’s former deputy national chairman, was reviewed after the Court of Appeal’s ruling on March 12, 2026.
Opposition groups such as the Peoples Democratic Party, the Obidient Movement, the ADC Youth Group, and other Nigerians accuse the electoral commission and ruling party of attempting to silence other parties and establish a one-party state.
The electoral commission, in a statement signed by the Chairman, Information and Voter Education, Mohammed Kudu, had noted that the commission will no longer engage with either faction nor monitor any meetings, congresses, or conventions of the two groups until the matter at the Federal High Court is decided.
Consequently, INEC, on Wednesday, removed the names of Mark and Aregbesola from its portal, delisting them as the National Chairman and National Secretary of the ADC, respectively, adding that Nafiu Bala Gombe, who approached the court seeking to be declared the national chairman, would not be added as well.
In the statement, Mr Kudu said the commission had received conflicting legal demands from opposing camps, each laying claims to the party’s leadership and asking to be recognised as the official leadership of the ADC. The statement further explained that INEC received a letter from Suleiman Usman SAN & Co., cautioning it against recognising Gombe as acting national chairman due to a pending court case, specifically referring to ongoing litigation, and a counter-letter from Summit Law Chambers demanding enforcement of the appellate court’s judgement, which they argue affirms Gombe’s position.
INEC said the letters from the two parties have been accusing the commission of acting in disobedience of the Court of Appeal’s orders by inviting Senator David Mark’s group to a political party’s meeting held on Tuesday, 24th March, 2026, and monitoring its National Executive Committee meeting of that group.
“While the letter from Suleiman Usman SAN & Co urged the Commission not to recognise Mr Nafiu Bala Gombe as acting National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on account of the pending Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025: Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe v. ADC & 4 Ors. before the Federal High Court, Abuja, where the question of the leadership of the Party (ADC) is presently being contested, the letter from Summit Law Chambers, on the other hand, attached the certified True Copy of the Judgement of the Court of Appeal in Suit No. CA/ABJ/145/2026: Senator David Mark v Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe & Ors and requested the Commission to enforce the judgment of the Court of Appeal, including: Ceasing recognition of Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively, of ADC;
Removing their names from the Commission’s portal and refraining from dealing with or recognising any actions taken by them in respect of the party in line with the preservation orders made by the Court of Appeal.
Reactions Trail INEC Decision
Reacting on behalf of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi the party’s spokesperson, dismissed INEC’s reliance on the Court of Appeal’s stance, noting that its directive merely calls for maintaining the status quo as an interim measure.
Mr Abdulahi argued the electoral commission violated the law, noting the appellate court’s ruling required maintaining the status quo as it was before the case began. He stated this means returning to the previous state prior to any legal interpretations.
“This indicates only one thing. We should have maintained the status quo before the Nafiiu Gombe went to court. And the status quo at the time was that David Mark was the leader. And that’s why INEC recognised it.
The ADC spokesperson said that if the INEC stands by its decision, it implies an undermining of democratic progress. “So, if they are doing otherwise now, it means they are yielding to pressure from the enemies of democracy that this APC government represents, and we are going to resist it by all legal means possible.”
PDP’s Reaction
In the same vein, the spokesperson of the Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ini Ememobong, accused the ruling party of calculatingly infiltrating the opposition to ensure that they are not rivalled in the coming elections.
“The APC government is afraid of the quit notice Nigerians are giving them. They started with the Labour Party, then they moved to the PDP, and now they are in the ADC. They even went to Accord. Any platform that looks credible and formidable, the APC people enter and destroy it. This is why we are saying that we must all come together and reason. If we need to boycott this election, then we will do so.’’
He added, “I can say for a fact that there is no opposition political party whose APC leadership and the president have not interfered with to the extent that they can use it to do what they want. These are the reasons why the problems in these parties are intractable. There is absolutely no doubt.
“It is a national tragedy and a challenge to democracy that should not be allowed to happen. Sadly, Nigerians are being denied what they are supposed to have, but we can assure you that in the end, Nigerians will progress.”
Obedients’ Movement
Yunusa Tanko, the national coordinator of the Obedient Movement, Obi’s support group, warned the electoral commission to avoid partisanship and make decisions that could have disastrous consequences if the commission chose to be partisan.
Mr Tanko maintained that the ruling party is intimidated by the recent growth the new opposition coalition is recording and is intimidated by it. He added that the development is suggestive of the government’s involvement and asked Nigerians to resist it.
The Obidient National Coordinator stated, “This is completely absurd.” A court case that is still pending. When did they adjudicate on the issue of the court case and make it a basis to say they are not recognising anybody? This is terrible. This is unacceptable. They should be careful with the way they are going. We will reject this, honestly.’’
“Anyway, as far as we are concerned, this is a matter that will be discussed in the public domain for the Nigerian people. Nigeria ceases to be a nation if this happens. Nigeria will face catastrophic effects if INEC continues to use this as a pretext in making decisions that concern the people. This is totally unacceptable in any ramification whatsoever, and the people reject it.
“The APC government is behind it. Of course, because they have seen the level of mobilisation of the African Democratic Congress in Kano, Kaduna and some other parts of the country. And they do not really care if this is set ablaze. This is a catastrophic position that they should not take,” he noted.
In the same vein, the spokesperson of the Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ini Ememobong, accused the ruling party of calculatingly infiltrating the opposition to ensure that they are not rivalled in the coming elections.
“The APC government is afraid of the quit notice Nigerians are giving them. They started with the Labour Party, then they moved to the PDP, and now they are in the ADC. They even went to Accord. Any platform that looks credible and formidable, the APC people enter and destroy it. This is why we are saying that we must all come together and reason. If we need to boycott this election, then we will do so.’’
He added, “I can say for a fact that there is no opposition political party whose APC leadership and the president have not interfered with to the extent that they can use it to do what they want. These are the reasons why the problems in these parties are intractable. There is absolutely no doubt.
“It is a national tragedy and a challenge to democracy that should not be allowed to happen. It is sad that Nigerians are being denied what they are supposed to have, but we can assure you that in the end, Nigerians will progress.”
ADC Youths Call for A Protest
In the same plot, the youth group of the ADC, in conjunction with the supporters and other members of the party, have vowed to lead a protest at the INEC headquarters in Abuja today to stand against INEC’s decision not to recognise the leadership of the party.
In a statement signed by the group, calling on the supporters of the key members of the party, including the Atikulates (supporters of H.E. Atiku Abubakar), the Obidients (supporters of H.E. Peter Obi), the El-Rufai Boys & Women’s League, the Amaechi Youths, and the Kwankwasiyya National Movement, to lead a movement against the decision of the INEC in a protest slated to hold on Thursday, April 2, 2026.
“We are coming together for one singular purpose: to protect the leadership of David Mark and the integrity of the ADC. We will not stand by while the pillars of our party are meddled with or suppressed by external forces.
“The mandate of the people is sacred. The leadership of our party is non-negotiable. We hereby direct all members of the aforementioned groups currently in Abuja to mobilise immediately. “Let it be known that when the Atikulate vision, the Obidient discipline, the El-Rufai boldness, and the Amaechi resilience combine under the ADC banner, it represents the heartbeat of the Nigerian youth. We are peaceful, but we are firm.
“We call on every member of the ADC nationwide and every patriotic youth to mobilise, organise, and join this movement. This is not about a single party; this is about Nigeria. We will be resolute. We will be firm. We will not be silent while our leaders are persecuted and our democracy is dismantled. Nigeria will not become a one-party state. We stay until justice is served.”
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