The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed that it will recognise only the candidates submitted by the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) headed by Senator David Mark, maintaining that its decision is based on an earlier Supreme Court judgment. The commission says the Mark-led leadership has already forwarded candidates for 471 elective positions ahead of the 2027 general election, while rival claims remain without legal backing.
Speaking on the development, INEC National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna said the electoral body granted the Mark led faction access to its restricted nomination portal after the Supreme Court affirmed its leadership of the party. According to him, the recognised leadership has since submitted candidates for two presidential positions, 109 senatorial seats and 360 House of Representatives constituencies. He added that the rival faction was not given access because it lacked legal recognition.
The commission’s clarification comes amid renewed legal and political disputes within the ADC following a Court of Appeal judgment on the party’s state congresses. Haruna said INEC would not immediately interpret the implications of that ruling until it receives and studies the Certified True Copy of the judgment, stressing that the commission’s next steps would be guided by the details contained in the court’s decision.
The ADC, through its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, welcomed INEC’s position and argued that the clarification had settled claims that a rival faction led by Nafiu Bala Gombe uploaded candidates through the commission’s nomination portal. The party alleged that the claim was false and called on relevant authorities to investigate and prosecute anyone found responsible for what it described as an attempt to mislead the public.
According to the party, falsely claiming access to INEC’s restricted nomination platform raises serious legal questions because only recognised party officials are authorised to submit candidates. The ADC maintained that the matter had moved beyond an internal disagreement and now required the attention of law enforcement agencies to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.
The latest controversy follows Monday’s Court of Appeal judgment, which upheld an earlier Federal High Court decision restraining INEC from recognising state congresses conducted by committees appointed by the David Mark-led caretaker leadership. The case arose after seven aggrieved state chairmen challenged the dissolution of their executives, arguing that their tenure had not expired and that the party breached its constitution by replacing them with caretaker committees.
Despite that ruling, INEC maintains that its recognition of the Mark-led leadership for candidate nominations remains anchored on the Supreme Court judgment, while the appeal court’s decision relates specifically to the conduct of state congresses. The commission says it will review the full judgment before determining whether any further administrative action is required, as preparations for the 2027 general election continue.
