By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will determine its next course of action on the leadership crisis in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after obtaining and reviewing the certified true copy of a Federal High Court judgment that nullified the David Mark-led caretaker committee.
The commission’s position follows Thursday’s ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which invalidated the Mark-led leadership structure and decisions taken under it, including the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the ADC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, told Sunday Punch that the commission would not rely on media reports of the judgment to make a decision.
“We can’t take a position until we see tthe judgement ourselves. We have to get the certified true copy because we don’t take decisions or reports of what the court said based on reports because the reports could be wrong,” he said.
Haruna disclosed that the commission would discuss the matter at its meeting next week.
“Well, this one is very straightforward even then, we are all here till next week when the commission meets. We will have to meet over it,” he said.
He also said INEC would comply with any subsequent court order if the Mark-led faction appealed the judgment and obtained an injunction suspending its enforcement.
“Obviously, if the David Mark faction should appeal, which I am sure they will, and they get an injunction for stay of execution, obviously, we’ll have to obey that judgement,” he added.
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja had, on Thursday, nullified the leadership of the Mark-led caretaker committee, ruling that the process through which it emerged violated the ADC constitution, relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.
The judgment followed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, filed by former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), Nafiu Bala Gombe, who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party.
Gombe argued that he was constitutionally entitled to take over the party’s leadership following the resignation of its former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu.
He asked the court to invalidate decisions taken by the Mark-led leadership and prevent Mark and former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, from presenting themselves as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.
In granting the suit, Justice Lifu nullified the process that produced the caretaker committee and the party’s presidential primary, which selected Atiku as its flag bearer for the 2027 elections.
The court also invalidated Aregbesola’s emergence as National Secretary, the appointment of other national officers and the nomination of candidates presented by the party for the forthcoming general elections.
Additionally, it directed INEC not to recognise or act on decisions reached at the ADC’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 27, 2025.
The ADC, INEC, Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu were listed as defendants in the suit.
