INEC Awaits Certified Court Judgment Before Taking Position on ADC Leadership Crisis

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will await the certified true copy of a Federal High Court judgment nullifying the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) before deciding its next course of action.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, said the commission would not rely on media reports to determine its position.

Haruna said, “We can’t take a position until we see the judgment ourselves. We have to get the certified true copy because we don’t take decisions or reports of what the court said based on reports, because the reports could be wrong.”

He said the commission would consider the matter at its meeting next week and comply with any subsequent court orders, including an injunction that may be granted following an appeal by the Mark-led faction.

“Obviously, if the David Mark faction should appeal, which I am sure they will, and they get an injunction for stay of execution, obviously, we’ll have to obey that judgment,” he added.

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja had, on Thursday, nullified the Mark-led caretaker committee, ruling that its emergence violated the ADC constitution, the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.

The judgment followed a suit filed by former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), Nafiu Bala Gombe, who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party.

Gombe argued that he was constitutionally entitled to take over the party's leadership following the resignation of its former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu.

The court upheld the suit and invalidated decisions taken under the caretaker committee, including the ADC presidential primary that produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party's candidate for the 2027 general election.

It also nullified the emergence of former Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, the appointments of other national officers and the party's nominations for the 2027 elections.

Furthermore, the court directed INEC not to recognise or act on decisions taken at the ADC's 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 27, 2025.

The ADC, INEC, Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu were listed as defendants in the suit.