Aregbesola Writes INEC, Seeks Halt to ADC Leadership Changes

Former Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), seeking a halt to changes in the leadership records of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Aregbesola, National Secretary of the ADC faction led by former Senate President David Mark, made the request through his lawyer, Mohammed Sheriff, SAN. The letter, dated November 9, was addressed to INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN.

Aregbesola's request comes amid a leadership dispute within the ADC, which has generated legal battles over the party's national leadership and the authority of its different factions. He informed INEC that he had filed a notice of appeal challenging a judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on November 5, 2026. A motion on notice seeking a stay of execution of the judgment was also filed on November 7.

Through the application, Aregbesola is seeking to prevent the enforcement of the court's orders against him while his appeal remains pending. He specifically urged INEC not to take administrative decisions that could affect his position as National Secretary or alter the commission's existing records on the ADC leadership before the court considers his application. His lawyer stated that the commission should defer any discretionary changes that could prejudice the relief sought in the pending application.

The letter referenced an earlier judgment delivered by Justice Musa Liman on July 2, 2026, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025, involving Rep. Leke Abejide against the ADC and other defendants. Aregbesola was listed as the fourth defendant in that case, while INEC was the fifth defendant. The July judgment recognised David Mark as the National Chairman of the ADC and Aregbesola as the National Secretary.

Aregbesola's lawyer, Mohammed Sheriff, maintained that the July 2 judgment remained relevant to the leadership dispute, particularly since no appeal had been filed against the decision. He urged INEC to consider the earlier judgment alongside the more recent ruling delivered by Justice Lifu on November 5. The senior lawyer explained that the November 5 judgment arose from a separate suit filed by Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe against the ADC and other defendants.

Sheriff argued that his client had challenged the November 5 decision through the appropriate legal process and had also approached the court for an order suspending its enforcement pending the determination of the appeal. The motion seeks a stay of enforcement of the two perpetual injunctions insofar as they affect Aregbesola, including the injunction restraining INEC from recognising or dealing with him in the capacities specified in the judgment.

The lawyer requested that INEC formally place the certified true copy of the July 2 judgment in its official records and forward both judgments and the relevant court processes to its Legal Services Department for urgent examination. This would enable the electoral body to carefully examine the legal implications of both decisions before making further changes to its records on the ADC leadership.

Key points

• Aregbesola seeks to prevent changes to ADC leadership records pending appeal against Federal High Court judgment.