The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has filed a suit before a Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to restore the names of Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, followed the removal of their names, along with other members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), from INEC’s official portal on April 1.
In a motion on notice dated April 7 and filed by counsel to Mark, Sulaiman Usman (SAN), the plaintiff is asking the court to issue a mandatory injunction directing INEC to reinstate the affected officials as they existed before the dispute.
The application, brought under Order 26 Rules 1 to 4 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019, seeks orders setting aside INEC’s decision to remove the names and its refusal to monitor the party’s congresses or convention pending the determination of the suit.
The plaintiff also requested an order directing INEC to immediately restore and maintain records recognising Mark as National Chairman and Aregbesola as National Secretary, alongside all members of the National Executive Committee. Additionally, the suit seeks to restrain the commission from interfering with the leadership records or recognising any rival claims until the case is resolved.
The legal action stems from a March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal in a leadership dispute initiated by a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Nafiu Gombe, at the Federal High Court. In a supporting affidavit, the plaintiff argued that the appellate court directed parties to maintain the “status quo ante bellum,” referring to the last uncontested leadership structure before the crisis.
Meanwhile, immediate past National Chairman of the ADC, Ralph Nwosu, said the party would continue preparations for its convention and congresses despite the ongoing leadership crisis.
The development comes amid protests by rival factions of the party at INEC headquarters, with civil society organisations alleging bias by the electoral body and some party stakeholders accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress of attempting to undermine opposition participation ahead of the 2027 elections.
