Court of Appeal Ruling: ADC faction asks INEC to remove David Mark’s NWC from portal

A faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by its national president, Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately remove the names of Senator David Mark and members of his National Working Committee (NWC) from the commission’s portal.

The party said the ruling ordered the electoral commission to withdraw recognition from the David Mark-led NWC and invalidated all decisions, resolutions and actions taken by the committee.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Gombe said INEC should only charge and recognize what he described as the party’s authentic National Working Committee, in accordance with a court ruling.

The faction also warned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to stop standing as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress for the 2027 general elections.

According to his letter, “The legitimate leadership of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, under the leadership of Hon Nafiu Bala Gombe, hereby requests the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to immediately remove the names of Senator David Mark and members of his NWC from the Commission portal.

“INEC is further requested to charge and recognize only genuine members of the ADC National Working Committee, in strict compliance with the ruling of the Court. This ruling directed INEC to withdraw recognition from the David Mark-led NWC and further invalidates all decisions, resolutions and actions taken by that Committee.

“Furthermore, the leadership of the African Democratic Congress hereby issues a formal and final warning to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to desist, with immediate effect, from presenting himself as the presidential candidate of the ADC. We reiterate our earlier position that His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, is not and has never been the presidential candidate of the ADC for the 2027 general elections.

“We urge Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to immediately refrain from using the name, logo and emblem of the Party to spread falsehoods and misinformation about the African Democratic Congress.

“We also give him a 7-day ultimatum to come out and issue a public apology to ADC members and stakeholders for making unauthorized statements on behalf of the Party. In case of failure to comply with the above demand within the stipulated period, we will seek appropriate legal remedy.

“Furthermore, we wish to draw the attention of the Inspector General of Police, IGP, and the Director General of the Department of State Services, DSS, to the activities of Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.

“We urge the relevant security agencies to bring about his immediate arrest and prosecution for spreading false information capable of misleading the public and inciting public unrest, thereby threatening the relative peace we currently enjoy.”