The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has removed the names of David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its official portal as National Chairman and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), respectively.
The commission also said it would not recognise Nafiu Bala Gombe, who is seeking to be declared national chairman through the courts.
INEC announced on Wednesday that it would suspend recognition of all factions within the party and refrain from monitoring any conventions or congresses organised by groups aligned with the affected leaders.
The decision, it said, will remain in place pending the final determination of a substantive suit before the Federal High Court.
The development follows a leadership crisis within the ADC and a recent judgment of the Court of Appeal in Suit No. CA/ABJ/145/2026, which has further complicated the dispute.
In a statement, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mallam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said the Commission remains committed to neutrality.
He urged political stakeholders to avoid actions that could disrupt preparations for the 2027 general elections.
INEC disclosed that it had received a letter dated March 16, 2026, from Suleiman Usman SAN & Co, warning against any recognition of Nafiu Bala Gombe as acting national chairman while legal proceedings are ongoing.
The Commission also confirmed receiving a separate “Demand for Enforcement” from Summit Law Chambers, representing Gombe, which called for the removal of Mark and Aregbesola from INEC’s records and urged the Commission to stop engaging with them or recognising any activities conducted under their authority.
The conflicting legal demands from the rival factions have deepened the party’s internal crisis, prompting INEC to halt all official dealings with the contending groups until the courts resolve the matter.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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