RismadarVoice Reporters
November 6, 2026
The National Executive Committee Chairmen Forum of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has demanded the removal of former Senate President David Mark and members of his leadership committee from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) official portal.
The forum also threatened a nationwide protest if the electoral commission failed to implement a Federal High Court judgment concerning the party’s leadership dispute.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday, the forum’s Secretary, Kennedy Odion, called on INEC to recognise Nafiu Bala Gombe and other officials whom the group considers the legitimate leadership of the ADC.
He also urged the commission to reopen its portal to enable the party to conduct fresh primaries where necessary and submit candidates for the 2027 general elections.
The demands followed Thursday’s judgment by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which nullified the David Mark-led interim leadership and invalidated decisions taken under its authority.
The ruling affected the presidential primary that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the ADC’s candidate, alongside other nominations conducted under the disputed leadership.
Odion maintained that the judgment supported the forum’s position that the Mark-led committee was not constituted in accordance with the party’s constitution.
He argued that INEC should immediately update its records and discontinue recognition of officials whose appointments had been nullified.
The forum also criticised the commission’s handling of earlier court decisions relating to the party’s internal leadership arrangements.
Odion said members had pursued legal remedies rather than confrontation but warned that continued non-compliance could trigger nationwide demonstrations.
However, the Mark-led ADC leadership has rejected the latest judgment and announced plans to challenge it at the Court of Appeal.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, argued that the ruling conflicted with an earlier Federal High Court judgment delivered by Justice Musa Liman on July 2, 2026, concerning the legitimacy of the leadership transition.
The party maintained that the earlier decision remained valid and said it was awaiting the certified judgment to examine the precise orders.
The dispute has created uncertainty over the ADC’s leadership and candidate nominations ahead of the elections.
Although the November 5 judgment invalidated the affected nominations, the party’s announced legal challenge means further judicial proceedings could determine their eventual status.
The forum insisted that compliance with court orders was necessary to restore stability within the party and protect the integrity of its electoral processes.
