The National Executive Committee (NEC) Chairmen Forum of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove Senator David Mark and members of his dissolved Interim National Working Committee from its official portal.
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The forum also threatened to stage a nationwide protest if the electoral commission fails to comply with a recent court judgment on the party’s leadership crisis.
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It demanded that INEC replace the names of Mark and other members of the dissolved leadership with those of Nafiu Bala Gombe and other officials it considers legally recognised.
The forum further called on the commission to reopen its portal to enable the party to conduct fresh primaries where necessary and upload its candidates for the 2027 general elections.
The forum’s Secretary, Kennedy Odion, made the demands while addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday, a day after Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, nullified the Mark-led interim leadership of the party.
Odion said the judgment invalidated decisions taken by the dissolved leadership, including the nomination of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate and the emergence of other candidates through its congresses and national convention.
He maintained that the ruling affirmed the forum’s position that the interim leadership was not constitutionally recognised.
According to him, the forum accepted the judgment recognising Bala Gombe as the authentic national chairman of the ADC and urged INEC to reflect the court’s decision in its records.
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Odion warned that the forum would proceed with its planned nationwide protest if the electoral commission failed to comply with the ruling.
He also argued that the judgment affected the candidacies of Atiku Abubakar, his running mate, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, and other politicians who emerged through the interim leadership’s electoral processes.
The ADC has been embroiled in a prolonged leadership dispute between the Mark-led interim National Working Committee and the faction led by Bala Gombe.
The crisis had earlier resulted in a Federal High Court judgment delivered by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on April 29, 2026, which affirmed the tenure of elected state executive committees pending the conduct of valid congresses and a national convention.
The court also restrained INEC from recognising congresses organised by the interim National Working Committee. The Court of Appeal upheld the decision on June 13, 2026.
Odion alleged that despite the earlier court decisions, INEC continued to recognise the Mark-led leadership and accept candidates produced through its congresses and national convention.
He said the forum had resorted to legal action rather than confrontation, adding that its restraint had helped prevent violence among aggrieved party members.
He also commended the judiciary and expressed support for Bala Gombe, saying the faction would work towards restoring stability within the party.
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