ADC USA Diaspora Slams INEC Over Removal of David Mark-Led Leadership From Official Portal

The ADC USA Diaspora chapter reacts to INEC's removal of the David Mark-led leadership, calling for institutional independence and intervention from national leaders.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 2, 2026, 7:16 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Newsdiaryonline

Diaspora Leadership Challenges INEC’S Neutrality

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Diaspora Chapter, USA, has formally voiced its opposition to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) recent administrative changes regarding the party's leadership. In a statement signed by Chairman Hon. Safiyanu Ali (Maibiyar) and Secretary Hon. Adeolu Balogun, the group characterized the removal of the Senator David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) from the commission’s digital portal as a threat to party administration. The group argues that taking such definitive action while the leadership structure is still being debated in court raises serious questions about "institutional independence" and procedural fairness.

INEC Cites Court Rulings for Suspension of Dealings

The controversy stems from an announcement by INEC National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna, who stated that the commission would suspend dealings with all factions of the ADC pending a final court determination. Haruna explained that the decision follows a review of Appeal No. CA/ABJ/145/2026 involving Senator David Mark and Nafiu Bala Gombe. According to INEC, the Court of Appeal directed all parties to maintain the "status quo," leading the commission to scrub the current NWC details from its public portal to avoid appearing to favor one faction over another during the ongoing Federal High Court proceedings in Abuja.

A Call for Intervention from Nigeria’s Elder Statesmen

The ADC Diaspora Chapter has escalated the issue by calling on a broad spectrum of Nigeria’s political elite to support the strengthening of the country's democratic framework. The statement specifically named former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, and Ibrahim Babangida, along with political heavyweights Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso. The group urged these leaders to stand against any actions that could undermine the rule of law or the perceived independence of electoral umpires, suggesting that the international community, including the United Nations, should monitor the situation closely.