A counsel for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) told a court that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) validated Senator David Mark and Ogbene Rauf Aregbesola’s election as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary at a meeting on July 29, 2025.
In a popular video on X, the counsel, speaking to reporters after a court session, stated that INEC’s position supports the party’s allegation that the National Executive Committee (NEC) met on that date and produced the current leadership.
“INEC’s position agrees with us that the party did hold a NEC meeting on the 29th of July 2025, during which Distinguished Senator David Mark and His Excellency, Ogbene Rauf Aregbesola were elected as National Chairman and National Secretary of ADC, respectively,” he stated.
He went on to say that INEC not only acknowledged the meeting, but also verified its involvement.
“They also confirmed in their report that they attended the NEC meeting and that the meeting produced Senator David Mark and Aregbesola as National Chairman and National Secretary,” the lawyer said.
According to him, INEC documented the meeting and submitted a report as evidence in court.
“They prepared a report, which they have attached. So INEC is on the same page as us in this matter,” he stated.
The lawyer dismissed the plaintiff’s allegations, citing the case as baseless and without evidence.
“The plaintiff’s case is speculative, it is premised on gossip; an activity that never existed,” he claimed.
He explained that the plaintiff alleged that the party leaders appeared on July 22, 2025, but did not give evidence.
“Their argument is that Senator David Mark and Aregbesola emerged on the 22nd of July 2025, and we are saying no, you don’t have any document to prove that,” he stated.
In contrast, he stated that the party had documents to back up its argument.
“We have papers that demonstrate that on July 4, 2025, the party issued INEC a notification of the NEC meeting scheduled for July 29, 2025. The meeting was held on that specific date. INEC attended and issued a report, he stated.
The lawyer stated that the material presented to the court clearly supported the party’s stance.
“While we have evidence before the court to back up our claim that the meeting held on the 29th, they don’t have any document to support their assertion,” he stated.
He also questioned the plaintiff’s legal standing to file the lawsuit.
“What is the location of the person who filed this case? “He is not a party official, but rather a member,” he stated.
The attorney, citing Supreme Court judgements, contended that individuals cannot take legal action on internal party problems.
“The Supreme Court is very clear that on issues that bother on the internal affairs of a political party, no individual has any right to institute such action, and no court has jurisdiction to entertain it,” he said.