The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially recognized Senator David Mark as the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a development confirmed by checks on the INEC portal. This update follows a significant Supreme Court judgment that vacated a Court of Appeal order which had previously barred Mark's recognition as the party's leader. On April 1, 2026, INEC had initially removed the names of David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its official portal as National Chairman and National Secretary of the ADC, respectively, amidst the party's leadership crisis.

The Supreme Court, in its ruling on Thursday, favored former Senate President David Mark in the protracted legal battle for the control of the ADC. However, this decision is not the absolute final resolution of the matter, as the Supreme Court ordered the Federal High Court in Abuja, where the suit originated, to conclude the stalled proceedings. A five-member panel of the Supreme Court, led by Lawal Garba, unanimously upheld Mark's appeal, setting aside the Court of Appeal's directive for all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum. Justice Garba clarified that ordering status quo ante bellum was unnecessary once proceedings before the trial court had been fully and conclusively determined, as such preservative orders are only relevant during live proceedings to prevent a fait accompli. The Supreme Court's judgment now clears the path for the Federal High Court to deliver its judgment, which had been indefinitely adjourned pending the Supreme Court's decision.

The leadership crisis in the ADC stemmed from the influx of top politicians into the party last year, including Senator Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna State Governor Ahmed El-Rufai, and former Minister of Transport Rotimi Amaechi. These political figures, largely defectors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had adopted the ADC as a coalition platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election. The crisis intensified after the resignation of the party’s former executives led by Ralph Nwosu and the subsequent emergence of a new National Working Committee led by Senator Mark on July 29, 2025. This led Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former vice-national chairperson, to file a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging Mark's leadership and seeking recognition as the party's legitimate leader under its constitution, with INEC joined as a defendant.

During the earlier stages of the legal dispute, the Federal High Court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo. The Court of Appeal later dismissed an interlocutory appeal filed by the Mark-led faction and affirmed the Federal High Court’s status quo order. Following this, INEC received conflicting letters from both factions on March 16. The Mark-led faction urged the commission not to recognize Mr. Bala, while the Bala faction requested INEC to act on the Court of Appeal’s March 12 judgment. This ultimately led to INEC's decision to remove Mark and Aregbesola from its website, signaling non-recognition of any faction until the legal issues were resolved. The dispute escalated into protests in Abuja, where party members accused INEC of bias.

Reacting to the Supreme Court judgment, former Governor of Sokoto State and ADC chieftain, Aminu Tambuwal, described it as a strong affirmation of the rule of law and democratic stability. In a statement via his X handle, Tambuwal lauded the judiciary as a steadfast guardian of justice and constitutional order. He emphasized that the ruling puts to rest all questions surrounding the party's leadership, affirming the legitimacy of the leadership under Senator David Mark and H.E. Rauf Aregbesola, which he deemed critical for the party's stability, unity, and growth. Tambuwal called for all stakeholders to respect the judgment and engage within legal bounds to strengthen democratic values.

Hours after the Supreme Court's pronouncement, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar held a meeting with key leaders and stakeholders of the ADC at the residence of the National Chairman, Senator David Mark. Those reportedly in attendance included Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, and Senator David Mark himself. The details of this high-level meeting are yet to be disclosed, but it signifies the renewed focus on party stability and strategy following the significant legal clarity provided by the Supreme Court.