The African Democratic Congress has rejected the Independent National Electoral Commission's interpretation of a Court of Appeal order requiring the maintenance of the status quo in its internal dispute. In a statement issued Friday by National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, the party accused INEC of misrepresenting the court directive and overstepping its constitutional role. The ADC insists its congresses and national convention remain lawful, with no court order preventing such activities. On Wednesday, INEC removed David Mark as ADC National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary from its records, citing compliance with the status quo order. National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna confirmed the delisting, linking it to ongoing litigation. David Mark, speaking Thursday in Abuja, declared that party activities would proceed as planned, calling INEC's action illegal. INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan, in a Friday interview on Arise Television, warned the Mark-led faction against holding congresses without recognition, stressing adherence to court directives. The ADC responded by accusing Amupitan of contempt of court, arguing that the status quo order does not halt internal party processes. The party maintained that INEC lacks the authority to interpret judicial orders or suspend democratic functions based on internal disputes.
INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan's insistence on freezing ADC's activities based on his interpretation of a court order sets a troubling precedent for how electoral oversight can morph into operational control. The ADC's argument that internal party democracy should not be suspended by pending litigation is not just about one faction—it speaks to how easily regulatory caution can be weaponised against opposition momentum. If INEC can halt congresses over disputed leadership claims, smaller parties with fewer resources face even greater vulnerability. This moment isn't about David Mark or Rauf Aregbesola—it's about whether Nigeria's electoral body sees itself as a referee or a gatekeeper.
