BREAKING: ADC Chairmen Threaten Nationwide Protest if INEC Ignores Leadership Ruling

• ADC chairmen threaten nationwide protest if INEC fails to act on the court ruling and replace David Mark with Nafiu Bala Gombe on its portal

The National Executive Committee (NEC) Chairmen Forum of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has threatened to stage a nationwide protest if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fails to comply with a court ruling on the party’s leadership dispute.

The forum wants INEC to replace the names of Senator David Mark and members of his dissolved Interim National Working Committee with those of Nafiu Bala Gombe and other officials it says are legally recognised. It also asked INEC to reopen its portal so the party can hold fresh primaries where necessary and submit its candidates for the 2027 general elections.

Forum secretary Kennedy Odion made the demands at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, a day after Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court removed the Mark-led interim leadership.

“We, the only legally recognised NEC members, accept in its entirety the judgment declaring our own Alhaji Nafiu Bala Gombe the authentic national chairman of the ADC.

“Failure to comply with this latest judgment will leave us no option but to proceed with our planned nationwide protest against the electoral umpire. Nigeria is for all of us. No individual, however highly placed, is above the law,” Odion said.

Odion said the judgment nullified decisions made by the interim committee, including the nominations of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate and other candidates who emerged from its congresses and national convention.

Earlier dispute remains before the Supreme Court

The ADC leadership dispute has led to several court cases over who can lead the party and organise its congresses and national convention.

On April 29, 2026, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled in favour of ADC state chairmen led by Don-Norman Obinna. The court upheld the tenure of the elected state executive committees pending valid congresses and a national convention. It also restrained INEC from recognising congresses organised by the interim committee.

The Court of Appeal upheld that judgment on June 13, 2026. Odion alleged that INEC continued to recognise the Mark-led leadership and accept candidates it had nominated. He said the forum had taken steps to challenge the commission’s actions and that the earlier dispute remained before the Supreme Court.

“The maturity shown by the NEC Chairmen Forum as law-abiding members of society prevented a melee and saved the lives of agitated and disenchanted party members and candidates,” he said.

Odion pledged the forum’s support for Gombe and said he expected his leadership to restore stability to the ADC. He congratulated Gombe and party members, declaring that “sanity” had returned to the party.