Mark-Led ADC Leadership Drags INEC to Court Over Portal Delisting

The leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President, David Mark, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to overturn a decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The suit follows the removal of the names of Mark and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, listed as National Chairman and National Secretary respectively, from the party’s official portal on April 1.

In the application filed before Justice Emeka Nwite, Mark is urging the court to grant an order of mandatory injunction compelling INEC to set aside its refusal to attend or monitor the party’s congresses and convention, pending the determination of the suit.

He is also asking the court to direct INEC to immediately restore and maintain the names of all members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) in its records and official portal, as they existed prior to the institution of the suit.

The motion on notice, dated and filed on April 7, was submitted by Mark’s counsel, Sulaiman Usman (SAN).

The application is in response to the March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal in a suit instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe.

In the motion, which seeks three reliefs, the applicants relied on provisions of Order 26, Rules 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019, as well as the inherent and equitable jurisdiction of the court to grant injunctive reliefs.