The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has updated its official website to reflect David Mark as the national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), with Rauf Aregbesola listed as national secretary, in line with a recent supreme court decision.
The change, observed on Thursday evening, reverses an earlier action taken in early April when the commission removed the Mark-led leadership from its portal. INEC had relied on a court of appeal judgement linked to the party’s internal leadership dispute.
A contest for control of the party has persisted between the faction loyal to Mark and another group associated with Nafiu Bala, a former national vice-chairman of the ADC. Both sides have laid claim to the party’s leadership.
Earlier on Thursday, the supreme court directed Mark to return to the federal high court for the hearing and resolution of issues surrounding the leadership tussle within the party.
In its unanimous verdict, a five-member panel of the apex court led by Mohammed Garba criticised the earlier directive of the court of appeal, which instructed parties in the case to maintain status quo ante bellum.
Following the ruling, INEC restored the ADC page that had previously been removed. The page now carries the full list of the party’s leadership, with Mark at the helm.
