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The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has barred the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from recognising or participating in any congress organised by committees appointed by the Senator David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the African Democratic Congress, ADC. The judgement was delivered on Wednesday by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
The court also restrained the Mark-led group from interfering with the tenure and functions of elected state executives of the party. Justice Abdulmalik held that the responsibility for conducting state congresses rests with elected state executive committees and not with a national caretaker leadership.
The suit was filed by Don Norman Obinna and six others on behalf of ADC state chairmen and state executive committees. It was marked FHC/ABJ/CS/581/2026. The plaintiffs challenged the legality of the caretaker leadership’s decision to appoint a congress committee for the conduct of state congresses, arguing that such powers belong only to duly elected party organs recognised under the party’s constitution.
Among the defendants listed in the suit are the ADC, Senator David Mark, Senator Patricia Akwashiki, Bolaji Abdullahi, Rauf Aregbesola, Oserheimen Osunbor, and INEC. The court agreed with the plaintiffs and held that the procedure adopted by the caretaker leadership, including the appointment of a congress committee, is not recognised by the party’s constitution.
Justice Abdulmalik said that while courts are generally reluctant to interfere in the internal affairs of political parties, they have a duty to intervene where there is an allegation of breach of constitutional or statutory provisions. She added that the tenure of the ADC’s elected state executive committees remains valid and must be allowed to run its course without disruption.
The court consequently set aside the appointment of the congress committee and restrained INEC from recognising any congress organised by it. It further restrained the defendants from organising congresses or conventions outside the provisions of the ADC constitution or from taking steps capable of undermining the authority of the party’s elected state executives.
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Oyebade Oluwatobiloba
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