Under fire Nigeria’s electoral Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has updated its official register of political party leadership to recognize former Senate President David Mark as national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), with former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola listed as the party’s national secretary.
The decision followed Thursday’s ruling of the Supreme Court, which had affirmed Mark’s leadership.
INEC had earlier derecognized Mark’s leadership in an obvious misinterpretation of a court order to maintain the status-quo ante bellum.
The electoral body was lashed, with many accusing it of working for the reelection of President Bola Tinubu.
Its chairman Prof Joash Amupitan had been accused of been a sympathizer of the ruling APC, with netizens digging up his former tweet on X, in which he was celebrating APC’s win in the last election. He was though not INEC chairman, and had also denied ownership of the X-handle. However, Nigerians and civil soceities have been unconvinced and the call for his resignation had not died down.
Meanwhile, as at 11 pm on Thursday, INEC’s website showed Mark heading the ADC, with Aregbesola occupying the position of national secretary, Dr. Mani Ahmad as national treasurer, Akibu Dalhatu as national financial secretary, and Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor as national legal adviser.
The apex court’s ruling vacated a status quo ante bellum order that had previously frozen the leadership question and directed that related proceedings return to the Federal High Court.
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