A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from recognizing any state congresses conducted by committees set up by the David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik in her judgment on Wednesday held that the responsibility of conducting state congresses lies with the party’s state executive committees, not the national leadership.
The court further held that the tenure of the ADC’s State Working Committees and State Executive Committees, which is four years, still remains valid and subsisting pending the conduct of properly constituted congresses and the convocation of a national convention.
Justice Abdulmalik also ruled that the Nigerian Constitution or the party constitution does not give the caretaker/interim National Working Committee, led by David Mark, the power to appoint committees to carry out state congresses.
The judgment is on the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/581/2026 filed by Don Norman Obinna, Johnny Tovie Derek, Obah C. Ehigiator, Hon. Olona Yinka, Dr. Charles Idowu Omideji, Samuel Pam Gyang and Obianyo Patrick as plaintiffs, suing for themselves and on behalf of all State Chairmen and State Executive Committees of the ADC.
