Nigeria’s electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission, has formally restored the leadership of the African Democratic Congress led by David Mark, marking a fresh development in the party’s ongoing crisis.
The commission updated its official portal to reflect Mark as National Chairman, alongside other members of the party’s National Working Committee.
Among those reinstated are Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary and other key officials occupying strategic positions within the party structure.
The move comes after a series of legal battles over who should be recognised as the legitimate leadership of the ADC, a dispute that had earlier led to the removal of the group’s details from INEC’s records.
That earlier decision followed a Court of Appeal directive, which forced the commission to temporarily withdraw recognition of the Mark-led faction.
However, the situation changed after the Supreme Court set aside aspects of the previous rulings, creating room for INEC to review and update its position.
Checks on the commission’s platform confirmed that the names of the reinstated officials have now been re-listed, signalling a shift in recognition back to the Mark-led structure.
The leadership crisis had created confusion within the party, with rival factions making competing claims and seeking validation through the courts.
Political observers say INEC’s latest action reflects compliance with recent judicial developments, even though the substantive case over leadership is still pending.
The decision is expected to influence internal party activities, including preparations for congresses and future electoral participation.
Despite the reinstatement, analysts note that the broader dispute is not yet resolved, as the matter has been returned to a lower court for final determination.
For now, the updated recognition gives the Mark-led faction a temporary advantage as the legal contest over the party’s control continues.