Uproar as INEC Deletes David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from ADC Leadership; Dino Melaye Threatens ‘Criminal Action’ Over ‘Jankara’ Interpretation of Court Order

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has triggered a political firestorm by “axing” the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). On Saturday, April 4, 2026, the commission confirmed it has expunged the names of former Senate President David Mark and former Governor Rauf Aregbesola from its official portal, effectively “flipping the script” on the party’s plan to emerge as the primary challenger to the ruling APC in 2027.

The “Solution” to the ADC’s leadership vacuum, according to a recent Court of Appeal judgment, is to halt all recognition of the Mark-led National Working Committee. The court case, brought by former Vice Chairman Nafiu Bala Gombe, suggests that the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola in July 2025 bypassed the party’s internal succession rules. INEC spokesperson Mohammed Kudu stated that the commission has “no choice but to comply with the judiciary,” confirming that they will no longer monitor ADC congresses or accept correspondences from the duo.

The move has been met with fierce resistance. Former Senator Dino Melaye, speaking on national television, accused INEC of “deliberate sabotage.” Melaye argued that the commission is intentionally leaving the party without a leader during a critical voter revalidation period to prevent them from conducting valid primaries. “This is a criminal disobedience of reality,” Melaye stated, vowing that the party would pursue criminal charges against specific INEC officials for what he called a “biased” interpretation of the law.

This “axing” comes at a highly suspicious time for the opposition. Rumors had been swirling that the ADC was about to finalize a merger with Rabiu Kwankwaso’s faction, a move that would have significantly altered the 2027 power map. With the party now in legal limbo, the “Renewed Hope” of the opposition to form a unified front faces a major roadblock. As “Occupy INEC” protesters gather at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, the battle for the soul of the ADC appears headed for a final, high-stakes showdown at the Supreme Court.