The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it will no longer recognise or engage with either faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by David Mark or Rafiu Bala, pending the resolution of their leadership dispute in court.
According to a statement by INEC, the commission will stop receiving correspondence from both groups and will not monitor any of their activities, including meetings and conventions. It also revealed that David Mark’s name will be removed from its official records.
The decision follows a Court of Appeal ruling delivered on March 12, 2026, which dismissed an appeal filed by Mark’s camp and upheld earlier proceedings in the case.
The crisis began after the resignation of former ADC chairman Ralph Nwosu in July 2025, which led to the emergence of a caretaker committee headed by David Mark. However, Rafiu Bala, a former vice chairman, challenged the move, insisting he should have taken over leadership.
Bala subsequently filed a suit at the Federal High Court to restrain Mark’s group from acting as party leaders. While the case is still pending, INEC says it will maintain the situation as it was before the dispute began in September 2025 until the court gives a final ruling.
The development raises fresh uncertainty for the ADC, which had been adopted by an opposition coalition as a platform to challenge the APC in the 2027 elections.
