- Asks Court Not To Meddle In Party Affairs
- Told Court Nafiu Bala Gombe Resigned
Documents have shown that the Independent National Electoral Commission, under the former chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, attended and recognised the National Executive Committee (NEC) Meeting of the African Democratic Congress, which brought in Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as chairman and national secretary of the party, respectively.
The documents also reveal that INEC told the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja not to delve into issues of internal/domestic affairs of the ADC, and not go into political questions
which remains the exclusive preserve of political parties which should be allowed to
do their things.
The documents was an affidavit deposed to by Mr Jacob Ayuba, an Assistant Executive Officer at the INEC in response to an application filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe over the legality of the ADC National Working Committee led by Mark.
INEC, which is the fourth defendant in the suit filed by Gombe, in the affidavit dated September 12, 2025, asked the court to dismiss the applications of the former ADC national vice chairman.
The ADC, Senator David Mark, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Chief Ralph Nwosu are the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th defendants respectively in the suit.
The affidavit, a copy obtained by Osun Defender reads in part, “That granting the interim/interlocutory injunction sought would amount to pre-judging the substantive issues in the suit and granting the Plaintiff’s reliefs at an interlocutory stage.
“That the 4th Defendant on the 4th day of July, 2025 received a letter dated the same 4th July, 2025
“Notice of Intention to hold our National Executive Committee (NEC) Meeting” from the 1 Defendant notifying and inviting it to attend and monitor the Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting fixed for 29 July, 2025.
“That I further know as a fact that the 4th Defendant pursuant to the said invitation and in line with its statutory and constitutional mandate, deployed its officials who attended and monitored the said National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held at Chelsea Hotel at Central Business District, Abuja on the 29th day of July, 2025.
“That the 4 Defendant’s officials who monitored this said NEC meeting submitted a written report on same to the 1st Defendant, at its Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja being the custodian of all monitoring reports and the report shows what transpired at the said
NEC meeting of the 2nd Defendant. A copy of the said report is hereby attached and marked as Exhibit “INEC 2”.
The affidavit added that INEC, after monitoring the exercise, effected the changes in the national leadership of the ADC and recognised Mark and Aregbesola as National Chairman and National Secretary respectively.
“That the 4th Defendant pursuant to its monitoring report of the outcome of the 1st Defendant’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held at Chelsea Hotel at
Central Business District, Abuja on the 29th day of July, 2025 effected the changes of the 1 Defendant’s national leadership in its record and recognised 2nd and 3rd
Defendants as National Chairman and National Secretary respectively of the 1st Defendant,” it added.
Furthermore, INEC in the affidavit, confirmed that Nwosu who was the national chairman of the ADC before the NEC meeting, resigned alongside other national officers of the party.
“The National Executive Committee (NEC) Meeting of the 1st Defendant fixed for 29th July, 2025 has been held wherein the 5th Defendant and his other national Officers of the Party resigned their positions and appointed 2nd and 3rd Defendants as interim National Chairman and National Secretary respectively.
“That based on the outcome of the 1st Defendant’s NEC Meeting of 29th July, 2025, the 4th Defendant has already accorded recognition to the 2nd and 3rd Defendants as the
National Chairman and National Secretary respectively of the Party and reflected same
on the 4th Defendant’s Website.”
INEC added that an injunction cannot stop the recognition of Mark and Aregbesola and the uploading of their name on its website.
“That I know as a fact that an injunction cannot lie to stop a completed act (that is, recognition of the 2nd and 3rd Defendants as National Chairman and National Secretary
of the 1st Defendant and the publication of their names on the 4th Defendant’s website).”
It thereafter said the court cannot delve into the internal and domestic affairs of the ADC, adding that the court only has jurisdiction where the complaint is about the conduct of a party’s primaries for the selection or nomination of a candidate.
“That the Plaintiff’s application is in substance an invitation to this Honourable Court to delve into issues of internal/domestic affairs of 1st Defendant as a political party.
“That I know as a fact that a Court of record should not dabble into a political question which remains the exclusive preserve of political parties which should be allowed to
do their things.
“That the Plaintiff’s grievances as contained in his Originating Summons relate solely to the 1st Defendant’s internal processes of changing National Officers of the Party.
“That I know as a fact that the jurisdiction of the Court in party affairs is limited to where its complaint is about the conduct of its primaries for the selection/ nomination of a candidate, which is not the case of the Plaintiff in this case.
“That it is the interest of justice to refuse the application for interim junction filed by the
Plaintiff,” INEC added.
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
