Former Nigerian Senate President David Mark has launched a high-profile legal bid to be reinstated as the leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after his name was scrubbed from the national electoral register.

The lawsuit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, marks a significant escalation in the battle for control of the opposition party. It follows a controversial move by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on 1 April to delete the names of Mr. Mark and his National Secretary, the former interior minister Rauf Aregbesola, from its official records.

Mr. Mark’s legal team is now seeking a “mandatory injunction” to force the electoral umpire to restore the party’s leadership records to their previous state.

The ‘Status Quo’ Dispute

The core of the legal argument rests on a disagreement over a recent Court of Appeal directive. The lead counsel for the Mark faction, Sulaiman Usman SAN, argued that INEC had “misinterpreted” the court’s orders.

According to the filing, the appellate court had ordered all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum—the state of affairs before the legal battle began. Mr. Usman contends that at that time, David Mark was the undisputed chairman.

Key Reliefs Sought by the Mark Faction:

• Immediate Restoration: A court order forcing INEC to put the names of Mark and Aregbesola back on the official portal.
• Non-Interference: An injunction stopping INEC from recognising any “competing claims” until the court makes a final ruling.
• Accelerated Hearing: A request for the court to hear the case on a “day-to-day” basis, citing the “far-reaching implications” for Nigeria’s democratic governance.

Analysis: A Vacuum in the ‘Third Way’

The ADC, which has long tried to position itself as a viable alternative to Nigeria’s two main parties, is currently a house divided. The purge of its leadership from the INEC portal has created what lawyers describe as a “legal vacuum,” leaving the party unable to formally monitor congresses or conduct official business.

For David Mark—a veteran of Nigerian power politics—the stakes could not be higher. If the court refuses to grant this injunction, his faction risks being permanently sidelined in favour of a rival group led by Nafiu Gombe. Conversely, if the court sides with Mark, it will send a clear message to INEC that it cannot “un-recognise” political leaders while litigation is still active.

The Background

The friction dates back to September 2025, following the exit of the party’s long-term chairman, Ralph Nwosu. The subsequent power struggle has seen the case bounce between the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, with each side claiming the mantle of “authentic” leadership.

With the 2027 election cycle beginning to take shape, the resolution of this case will be a bellwether for how Nigerian courts handle internal party democracy and the extent of INEC’s powers to alter political records.