The 2027 presidential ambitions of key politicians on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) suffered a setback on Wednesday after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) removed the names of David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its portal as national chairman and national secretary of the party.
The development comes amid a deepening leadership crisis within the ADC, affecting the political calculations of prominent aspirants such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rotimi Amaechi.
INEC also stated that it would not recognise Nafiu Bala Gombe, who is seeking to assume the party’s national chairmanship through the courts.
In a statement signed by National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the commission said it would suspend recognition of all factions and refrain from monitoring any conventions or congresses organised by the party until the matter is resolved by the Federal High Court.
The decision follows the recent ruling of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria in Suit No. CA/ABJ/145/2026, which directed parties in the dispute to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending determination of the substantive case.
INEC emphasised its commitment to neutrality and urged political actors to avoid actions capable of disrupting preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The commission confirmed receiving conflicting legal communications from parties involved in the dispute, including a petition cautioning against recognising Gombe as acting chairman, as well as a separate demand urging the removal of Mark and Aregbesola from its records.
The leadership crisis intensified after rival claims emerged following the resignation of the Ralph Nwosu-led executive in July 2025. While the Mark-led faction asserted legitimacy, Gombe—then National Vice Chairman—challenged the move, insisting he never resigned and should have assumed leadership.
He subsequently approached the Federal High Court seeking to restrain the Mark faction from acting as party leaders.
Citing the appellate court’s directive, INEC said it has resolved to revert to the status of the party’s leadership prior to the dispute. Consequently, the names of the Mark-led National Working Committee, uploaded in September 2025 after the suit was filed, have now been removed from its portal.
The commission further announced a freeze on all official dealings with the party’s leadership, stating it will neither receive correspondence nor monitor any meetings, congresses, or conventions organised by any faction of the ADC until the Federal High Court delivers a final judgment.
