African Democratic Congress Heads To Court, Demands INEC Restore David Mark, Aregbesola’s Names
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The African Democratic Congress has filed an application before the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reinstate the names of Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary respectively.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, arose after INEC removed their names, along with those of other members of the party’s National Working Committee, from its official portal on April 1.
In a motion on notice dated April 7 and filed by counsel to David Mark, Sulaiman Usman (SAN), the applicants are asking the court for a mandatory injunction compelling INEC to restore the officials to their previous positions pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The application, filed under the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019 and the court’s inherent jurisdiction, seeks several key reliefs.
Among them is a request for an order setting aside INEC’s action removing the National Working Committee members from its portal, as well as its alleged refusal to monitor or recognise the party’s congresses and conventions while the matter is pending.
The party is also asking the court to compel INEC to immediately reinstate Senator David Mark as National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, alongside other National Executive Committee members.
Furthermore, the applicants are seeking an order restraining INEC from altering or interfering with the party’s leadership records or recognising any rival faction until the case is fully determined.
The suit originates from a March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal in an earlier leadership dispute filed by former Deputy National Chairman Nafiu Gombe before the Federal High Court.
In his supporting affidavit, Usman argued that the Court of Appeal had directed all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum, meaning the last uncontested state of affairs before the dispute began.
The case represents the latest escalation in the ongoing leadership crisis within the ADC, as competing factions continue to battle for control and official recognition.
The court’s decision is expected to determine whether INEC must restore the disputed names on its portal pending the final resolution of the case.
