Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has withdrawn official recognition of the leadership of African Democratic Congress (ADC) headed by former Senate President David Mark, following a Court of Appeal judgment in the ongoing internal party dispute.
Gatekeepers News reports that INEC announced on Wednesday that it will no longer accept correspondences from either faction of ADC, including the camp led by Mark or that of rival Nafiu Bala Gombe, and has removed the names of Mark and his national secretary from its official portal.
The commission said it would refrain from engaging with or monitoring meetings, congresses, or conventions of any ADC group until the matter is finally resolved by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The dispute stems from a leadership tussle that began after the resignation of the party’s previous executives in 2025 and the subsequent emergence of competing claims to the chairmanship.
A Court of Appeal judgment delivered on March 12, 2026 directed parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum — effectively freezing recognised leadership, pending substantive hearings.
The decision has drawn criticism from some legal commentators who argue that it could affect political competition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
