The internal crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has reached a critical turning point as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officially derecognized the leadership faction led by former Senate President David Mark and former Minister Rauf Aregbesola.
As of Wednesday, April 1, 2026, INEC removed their names from its official portal, signaling a refusal to recognize the legitimacy of their “interim” committee. This move follows a series of legal battles and a Federal High Court injunction in Abuja that restrained Mark and Aregbesola from presenting themselves as party leaders. The court challenged their appointment, which originated from a controversial coalition meeting in 2025, questioning why INEC should continue to recognize them over the long-standing leadership of Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu.
The commission’s stance—led by Chairman Prof. Joash O. Amupitan, SAN—is that it will not recognize any faction involved in unresolved internal disputes. For now, the ADC’s digital records on the INEC portal are being reverted or placed in a “pending” status to reflect the court’s decision in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/145/2026. This development effectively halts the Mark-Aregbesola bloc’s attempt to consolidate power ahead of the 2027 general elections.
