Independent National Electoral Commission has updated its records and restored Senator David Mark as the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress.
The update also showed former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola as the National Secretary of the party.
Other members of the National Working Committee have also been restored, including Dr. Mani Ahmad as National Treasurer, Akibu Dalhatu as National Financial Secretary, and Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor as National Legal Adviser.
Their names had earlier been removed from INEC’s portal in April after a Court of Appeal decision that affected the party’s leadership arrangement. That action led to disagreement within the party and among political groups.
The situation changed after the Supreme Court reviewed the matter. The court cancelled the earlier appeal court order that had directed the maintenance of the existing status. It stated that keeping such an order was no longer proper after the case had moved forward in court.
The Supreme Court also granted the appeal filed by the group led by David Mark. It ordered that the main case brought before the Federal High Court by a party member, Nafiu Bala Gombe, should continue and be decided quickly based on its merits.
Following the ruling, INEC restored the earlier list of party leaders, bringing back Mark and other officials to their positions in its records.
The Mark-led group has received the development as a positive step for the party, saying it supports proper legal process and internal order.
Despite the restoration, the dispute is not fully settled. The main case challenging the leadership structure of the party is still before the Federal High Court and is yet to be decided.
