INEC Nigeria@inecnigeria
PRESS RELEASE
INEC’S POSITION ON THE COURT OF APPEAL’S DECISION IN APPEAL NO. CA/ABJ/145/2026: SENATOR DAVID MARK V HON. NAFIU BALA GOMBE & ORS
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has received:
A letter from the law firm of Suleiman Usman SAN & Co. dated 16th March, 2026, titled:
“RE: NOTICE OF PENDING PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT AND CAUTION AGAINST ANY PURPORTED RECOGNITION OF MR NAFIU BALA GOMBE AS ACTING NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF THE AFRICAN DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS (ADC)” written on behalf of concerned stakeholders within the African Democratic Congress (ADC)
A letter from the law firm of Summit Law Chambers also dated 16th March 2026 titled:
“DEMAND FOR ENFORCEMENT OF THE ORDERS MADE BY THE COURT OF APPEAL, ABUJA DIVISION IN APPEAL NO: CA/ABJ/145/2026: SENATOR DAVID MARK V HON. NAFIU BALA GOMBE & 4 ORS” written on behalf of Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe.
While the letter from Suleiman Usman SAN & Co urged the Commission not to recognise Mr Nafiu Bala Gombe as acting National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on account of the pending Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025: Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe v. ADC & 4 Ors. before the Federal High Court, Abuja, where the question of the leadership of the Party (ADC) is presently being contested, the letter from Summit Law Chambers, on the other hand, attached the certified True Copy of the Judgment of the Court of Appeal in Suit No. CA/ABJ/145/2026: Senator David Mark v Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe & Ors and requested the Commission to enforce the judgement of the Court of Appeal, including:
Ceasing recognition of Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Chairman and National Secretary respectively of ADC;
Removing their names from the Commission’s portal; and
Refraining from dealing with or recognising any actions taken by them in respect of the party in line with the preservation orders made by the Court of Appeal.
Subsequently, by another letter on the same subject matter dated 27th March, 2026, Summit Law Chambers alleged that the Commission had acted in disobedience of the Court of Appeal’s Orders by:
i. Inviting Senator David Mark’s group to a political parties’ meeting held on Tuesday, 24th March, 2026; and
ii. Monitoring a purported National Executive Committee meeting of that group.
The solicitors (Summit Law Chambers) further drew the attention of the Commission to the Motion Ex-Parte and Motion on Notice filed by their client on 15th December, 2025, seeking to prevent the 1st Defendant (ADC) from holding any convention, congress, conference, or meeting and to stop INEC from attending, monitoring, observing or recognising any activities of the ADC. They accordingly requested INEC to invalidate the NEC meeting held by Senator David Mark's group on 25th March, 2026, remove the name of Senator David Mark's group from the INEC portal, stop recognising or acknowledging correspondence from them until the determination of the pending suit before the Federal High Court, Abuja and allow Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe to take over the affairs of ADC pending the determination of the case, and that INEC should respect the orders of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/145/2026.
ORDERS OF THE COURT OF APPEAL
In its judgement delivered on 12th March, 2026, the Court of Appeal dismissed the interlocutory appeal by Senator David Mark and made amongst others, the following Orders:
“Finally, it is necessary to make preservatory orders to ensure that the subject matter of the dispute pending before the trial court is not prejudiced as Courts have inherent powers to control and regulate proceedings to ensure justice...
