Supreme Court Ruling Forces INEC to Recognise David Mark as ADC National Chairman

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has updated its official records to recognise David Mark as the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), marking a major development in the party’s prolonged leadership dispute.

The update, now visible on the commission’s online portal, effectively restores Mark’s faction to official recognition after months of uncertainty over the party’s leadership structure.

The development follows the Supreme Court of Nigeria’s judgment delivered on Thursday, which set aside earlier orders that had complicated the dispute and returned the matter to the Federal High Court for further proceedings.

A five-member panel of the apex court unanimously voided the status quo ante bellum order previously imposed on the ADC. The court also set aside the ruling of the Court of Appeal, which had directed all parties to revert to their earlier positions pending the resolution of the case.

Earlier, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal had dismissed an appeal filed by Mark challenging the jurisdiction of Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a suit filed by Nafiu Gombe over the party’s leadership.

The appellate court held that the appeal was premature and filed without the required leave of the lower court. It then ordered that the matter be returned to the Federal High Court for accelerated hearing while maintaining the existing arrangement until final determination.

Following that directive, INEC had withdrawn recognition from the faction aligned with Mark pending judicial resolution of the leadership tussle.

Dissatisfied with the appellate court’s decision, Mark approached the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the ruling and set aside the order maintaining the status quo.


Elijah Adeyemi