Court Stops INEC From Recognising, Mark, Aregbesola Leadership Of ADC

The Federal High Court in Abuja in Abuja presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite on Thursday issued an order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising David Mark, and a former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as interim national chairman and National Secretary, respectively, of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
This followed a motion ex parte dated September 2, 2025, and filed by Nafiu Gombe.
It listed the ADC, Mark, and Aregbesola as the first, second, and third defendants, respectively.
INEC and a former national chairman of the party, Ralph Nwosu, were listed as the fourth and fifth defendants, respectively.
The order of interim injunction issued by Justice Nwite also barred INEC from recognising the representatives of Mark and Aregbesola, pending the hearing of the motion on notice already filed in the matter.
Business TodayNG recalled that INEC had on Wednesday on its website officially recognised Mark and Aregbesola as the interim national chairman and national secretary, respectively, of the ADC.
Other principal officers now officially recognised by the electoral body are a former Edo governor, Oserheimen Osunbor, as National Legal Adviser; Ibrahim Mani as National Treasurer, and Akibu Dalhatu as National Financial Secretary.
The opposition coalition officially adopted the ADC as it political platform on July 2, 2025, with the aim of contesting the presidential and other elections in 2027.
The coalition said it was set to rescue the country from collapse and rebuild its democracy.
Also part of the movement are the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar; his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi; a former governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai; and a former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, who were present at the unveiling.
Others are a former member of the National Assembly, Senator Dino Melaye; a former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalong; Dele Momodu, Senator Gabriel Suswam; Senator Ireti Kingibe of the Labour Party (LP), a former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; and a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (retd.).
At the unveiling, Nwosu formally handed over and presented the membership card of the party to Mark andAregbesola.