INEC Restores Mark and Aregbesola to ADC Leadership
The Independent National Electoral Commission has reinstated David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as the top leaders of the African Democratic Congress. This swift reversal follows a Supreme Court ruling that struck down a previous order to freeze the party’s leadership hierarchy. Within twenty-four hours of the apex court’s decision, the commission updated its website to reflect the status quo. Mr Mark returns as national chairman, while Mr Aregbesola resumes his role as national secretary. The move ends a brief period of administrative paralysis for the party.
Legal skirmishes over the soul of the ADC began in late 2025. Nafiu Bala, a former vice chairman, challenged the internal process that brought Mr Mark to power. He argued in the Federal High Court that the chairmanship belonged to him instead. When the Court of Appeal ordered parties to pause all activities in March, INEC withdrew its recognition of the executive committee. That decision effectively decapitated the party during a critical political window. The Supreme Court has now deemed that suspension unnecessary.
The apex court did not settle the underlying dispute over who should lead. It merely cleared the path for the current executives to function while the legal battle continues. The justices directed all parties to return to the Federal High Court in Abuja for a final trial. This means the cloud of litigation still hangs over the party’s headquarters. For now, the bench prefers a functioning leadership to a vacant one. It is a pragmatic choice in a system often bogged down by tactical delays.
INEC acted with uncharacteristic speed to implement the judicial directive. The commission’s digital portal now lists a full slate of officials alongside the chairman and secretary. Mani Ahmad remains the national treasurer, while Akibu Dalhatu holds the post of financial secretary. Oserheimen Osunbor, a professor of law, retains his position as the national legal adviser. This official stamp of approval provides the party with the legitimacy it needs to conduct formal business. Without it, the ADC could not field candidates or manage its finances legally.
The presence of heavyweights like David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola at the helm is significant. Both men are veterans of the Nigerian political establishment with deep ties to the ruling and opposition blocks. Their leadership of a third-force party like the ADC suggests a tectonic shift before the next general elections. The legal challenge by Mr Bala represents more than a personal grievance. It reflects the internal friction that occurs when established figures move into new political spaces. Internal party democracy remains a delicate and often litigious affair in Nigeria.
The Federal High Court must now decide if the Congress that elected these leaders followed the party’s own rules. If the court eventually finds the process flawed, INEC will have to scrub its website once again. Such volatility is common in Nigerian partisan politics. For the moment, the ADC has a recognised face and a functional secretariat. The burden of proof now lies with the dissidents to show that the current leadership is illegitimate. Until then, the veterans stay in their seats.