![Hon. Festus Keyamo SAN arrives MMIA past 11:50 p.m. Feb 23 to lead oversight of Terminal 1 fire. Joined FAAN MD & team actively managing situation. Directed morning inspection Tuesday to guide restoration & confirm safety standards. Reaffirmed focus on passenger safety. Story: [link] #KeyamoMMIA #FireIncident #FAAN](https://fullcliphq.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/mym-150x150.jpg "MMIA Fire: Keyamo Inspects Lagos Airport After Terminal 1 Blaze Disrupts Flights")
The crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has intensified after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) moved to strike out the names of Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its records as National Chairman and National Secretary of the party.
INEC also announced that it would no longer recognise Nafiu Bala Gombe, who is seeking to assume leadership through the courts, while suspending recognition of all conventions and congresses organised by the Mark-Aregbesola faction pending the determination of the substantive suit before the Federal High Court.
The commission said its decision followed the ongoing leadership tussle within the party and the recent judgment of the Court of Appeal in Suit No. CA/ABJ/145/2026. It reiterated its commitment to remaining neutral and guided strictly by legal processes.
In a statement, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, urged political actors to avoid actions that could disrupt preparations for the 2027 general elections.
INEC disclosed that it received multiple legal communications from opposing factions, including a notice from Suleiman Usman (SAN) & Co cautioning against recognising Gombe as acting national chairman, as well as a “Demand for Enforcement” from Summit Law Chambers seeking the removal of Mark and Aregbesola from its portal.
The commission, however, declined the request by Gombe’s legal team to immediately recognise him as party leader, stating that the matter remains before the court and must be resolved through due process.
ADC Responds to INEC Decision
The African Democratic Congress says it is yet to receive any official communication from INEC regarding the delisting of its leaders. National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi confirmed that the party had not been formally notified of the commission’s position, while noting that the ADC had earlier raised alarm that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was pressuring INEC to destabilise the party and had accused the ruling party of attempting to recognise individuals who are not members in order to discredit the ADC and prevent it from fielding candidates in 2027.
The party particularly linked the intensified pressure to the recent defection of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to the ADC, describing it as a major jolt to the APC.
Broader Implications for the Opposition
The development marks a new phase in the ADC’s internal crisis, with conflicting legal claims and court actions further complicating the party’s leadership structure ahead of the next electoral cycle.
The ADC has insisted that Senator David Mark remains the legitimate National Chairman and that the faction led by him is the authentic leadership of the party.
As the leadership tussle continues in court, the suspension of recognition by INEC could significantly affect the party’s ability to conduct congresses, conventions, and other official activities in preparation for the 2027 general elections.
Political observers note that the crisis, if not resolved quickly, may weaken the ADC’s position as a viable opposition platform and affect its chances of attracting more defectors or building a strong coalition.
The commission has urged all parties to allow the legal process to run its course, emphasising that INEC will continue to act in accordance with the law and its constitutional mandate.
