Senior Advocate of Nigeria Jibrin Okutepa has praised the Independent National Electoral Commission for swiftly restoring the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress to its portal following Thursday’s Supreme Court judgment.
Okutepa, lead counsel to Senator Mark, said INEC acted “without prompting” and without waiting to be formally served the ruling — a move he called rare respect for the rule of law.
“I was the lead counsel to Sen. David Mark at the Supreme Court in the judgment delivered yesterday,” Okutepa wrote Friday on X, @sanjsokutepa. “When I checked the INEC portal, it was clear that INEC, without prompting, has restored the leadership of the ADC to its portal.”
The Supreme Court on Thursday set aside a Court of Appeal order that had directed parties to maintain the status quo in the ADC leadership dispute. A five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba held that the Appeal Court lacked jurisdiction to issue the order.
The apex court partially allowed Mark’s appeal and sent the case back to the Federal High Court for determination of issues arising from the dispute.
The legal battle stems from a suit filed by former ADC vice-chairman Nafiu Bala, FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, seeking to stop Mark and National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola from parading themselves as party officers. The suit also listed INEC, the ADC, and founder Ralph Nwosu as defendants.
On March 12, the Court of Appeal dismissed Mark’s appeal against a September 4 Federal High Court ruling, prompting INEC to remove Mark’s executive from its portal.
Okutepa said INEC’s decision to reverse that action immediately after the Supreme Court ruling was “the right thing to do.”
“INEC, as a corporate entity, has accorded respect to the decision of the Supreme Court without pretending that it was yet to be formally served with the judgment,” he wrote. “That is how it should be under the rule of law.”
He noted that INEC was represented at the Supreme Court and contrasted its action with the conduct of other institutions that delay compliance until served.
“Too many in power have no respect for courts and court orders. In most cases, impunity reigns supreme in our land,” Okutepa said. “Even within the legal profession, court processes and orders are disregarded for personal benefit and in abuse of power.”
He added: “Until we agree to be bound by the rule of law and due process and avoid taking the law into our hands, Nigeria’s development will be a mirage.”
Okutepa, who stressed he is not a member of any political party, urged INEC to remain “bold and courageous” in safeguarding democracy.
“On this particular occasion, I must commend INEC for the prompt restoration of the ADC leadership on its portal without waiting for letters from the legal team of Sen. David Mark,” he wrote.
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