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The Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected an ex-parte application seeking to restrain former Senate President David Mark and ex-Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola from parading themselves as leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling delivered on September 4, declined the three prayers sought by Mr. Nafiu-Bala Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC, who challenged the recognition of the Mark-led executive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The judge instead ordered that the defendants, including Mark, Aregbesola, ADC, INEC, and Chief Ralph Nwosu, be put on notice to appear and show cause why the motion should not be granted. The matter was adjourned to September 15 for hearing.

Court documents, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, September 11, 2025, clarified that contrary to reports in some sections of the media, no restraining order was issued against the current ADC leadership.

Gombe, in his suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, had sought interim injunctions stopping INEC from recognising Mark and Aregbesola as National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively, pending determination of the substantive motion.

The ruling comes weeks after INEC formally confirmed the ADC’s National Working Committee, with Mark as chairman, Aregbesola as secretary, and other prominent figures including Bolaji Abdullahi, Babachir Lawal, and Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor.

In reaction, the ADC, through its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, issued a statement dismissing what it called “false reports” about the court decision.

According to the party, “the court did not issue any order restraining Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola from functioning as National Chairman and National Secretary. Instead, it refused the ex-parte application and directed that due process should follow.”

The ADC further accused “political jobbers” of misrepresenting the ruling to create confusion within the party and urged the public and the media to beware of misinformation.