The National Executive Committee Chairmen Forum of the African Democratic Congress has threatened a nationwide protest against the Independent National Electoral Commission if it fails to implement Thursday’s court judgment on the party’s leadership crisis.
The forum also demanded that INEC immediately remove the names of Senator David Mark and members of his dissolved Interim National Working Committee from its portal and replace them with those of Nafiu Bala Gombe and other party officials it recognised as legitimate.
It further called on the electoral commission to reopen its portal to allow the ADC to conduct fresh primaries where necessary and upload its candidates for the 2027 general elections.
The Secretary of the forum, Kennedy Odion, made the demands while addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday, following a judgment by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which removed the Mark-led interim leadership of the party.
Odion said the ruling invalidated decisions taken by the dissolved National Working Committee, including the nomination of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate and the emergence of other candidates through its congresses and national convention.
He described the judgment as a confirmation of the forum’s longstanding position that the Mark-led leadership lacked constitutional recognition.
“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.
He added that the judgment reinforced the forum’s stance that Atiku, his running mate, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, and other candidates nominated by the interim leadership were not the party’s legitimate candidates.
The ADC has been embroiled in a prolonged leadership crisis involving the Mark-led interim NWC and a faction headed by Bala Gombe.
The dispute has triggered several court cases over the party’s leadership and the conduct of its congresses and national convention.
The crisis had earlier resulted in a judgment delivered by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on April 29, 2026, in favour of the ADC state chairmen led by Don-Norman Obinna.
The court affirmed that the tenure of the elected state executive committees remained valid pending the lawful conduct of congresses and the convocation of a national convention.
It also barred INEC from recognising congresses organised by the interim NWC.
The ruling was subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeal on June 13, 2026.
However, Odion alleged that INEC continued to recognise the Mark-led leadership and accept candidates produced through its congresses and convention.
He said the forum had taken steps to challenge the commission’s actions, while the matter remained pending before the Supreme Court.
Odion stated that the forum’s decision to pursue legal remedies instead of confrontation had helped avert violence among aggrieved party members and candidates.
“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.
He also praised the judiciary for what he described as its courage in delivering justice, despite what he termed propaganda against the courts by the dissolved interim leadership.
While awaiting the Supreme Court’s ruling on the earlier litigation, Odion reaffirmed the forum’s support for Bala Gombe, expressing optimism that the new leadership would bring stability to the party.
He congratulated Bala Gombe and ADC members, declaring that “sanity” had returned to the party.
