INEC Swiftly Reinstates ADC Leadership Post-Supreme Court Verdict, Bolstering Mark's Faction

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) acts with uncommon speed, restoring the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to its official portal following a crucial Supreme Court verdict. This swift compliance sends a clear signal, firmly re-establishing the faction led by Senator David Mark, former President of the Senate (Peoples Democratic Party, Benue), in control of the party's machinery as the 2027 election cycle gathers pace.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jibrin Okutepa, who serves as lead counsel for Senator David Mark, commends INEC's proactive posture. Okutepa notes the electoral body's decision to update its portal without awaiting formal service of the apex court's judgment, a move he champions as a commitment to the rule of law.

The Supreme Court, in its Thursday pronouncement, directs Senator David Mark to return to the Federal High Court for a comprehensive hearing on the ADC's protracted leadership dispute. This directive comes after the Court of Appeal, on March 12, dismissed Mark's earlier appeal against a Federal High Court ruling from September 4. Crucially, the apex court's five-member panel, led by Justice Mohammed Garba, sharply criticizes the Court of Appeal's prior order for parties to 'maintain the status quo,' declaring it an overreach of jurisdiction.

The Legal Battle and INEC's Stance

The initial legal challenge, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, originates from Nafiu Bala, a former vice-chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Bala's suit seeks to prevent the Mark-led executive from presenting themselves as the party's legitimate national officers. The defendants in this high-stakes case include the ADC itself, Senator David Mark (Peoples Democratic Party, Benue), Rauf Aregbesola, the African Democratic Congress's National Secretary, INEC, and Ralph Nwosu, the party's founder and immediate past national chairman.

Writing on his X account, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN) clarifies his position, stating: "I am a legal practitioner. I am not a registered member of any political party in Nigeria. I am equally not an employee of any government. I owe no allegiance to anybody except the truth, justice, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria." He confirms his role as Senator Mark's lead counsel at the Supreme Court, affirming the immediate restoration of the ADC leadership on the INEC platform without external prompting.

Okutepa underscores the Supreme Court's unambiguous ruling. The apex court partially grants Senator David Mark's appeal, but more significantly, it annuls the Court of Appeal's 'maintenance of status quo ante bellum' directive, explicitly stating it lacked jurisdiction. It was precisely this invalidated directive that INEC previously cited as its basis for removing Senator Mark and his executive committee from its official register.

Upholding the Rule of Law

As a corporate entity, INEC demonstrates due deference to the Supreme Court's decision. The electoral body does not feign ignorance, nor does it await formal service of judgment, a common delay tactic in Nigerian political-legal circles. Okutepa hails this as the correct and exemplary action, especially given INEC's legal representation at the Supreme Court proceedings.

"This is how actions should unfold under the rule of law," Okutepa insists. He points out that INEC sets a standard in a nation where other institutions and high-ranking officials often deliberately delay compliance with court orders until directly prompted. Such conduct, he argues, constitutes an abuse of power, stifling Nigeria's progress "until we collectively commit to adhering to the rule of law and due process, and refrain from taking the law into our own hands."

INEC, in this instance, exhibits a rare understanding of respecting the rule of law, a sharp contrast to the many individuals in positions of power who habitually disrespect courts and their mandates. Okutepa laments the pervasive impunity in society, even within the legal profession, where court procedures and orders are often disregarded for personal gain and a blatant display of authority.