Court Stops INEC from Recognising ADC Congresses Linked to Mark-Led Leadership

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise or participate in any congress organised by committees constituted by the Senator David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik also restrained the caretaker committee from interfering in the affairs, tenure, and responsibilities of the party’s elected state executives.

The court clarified that the power to conduct state congresses rests solely with state executive committees, not with the national leadership.

It ruled that the tenure of the ADC’s State Working Committees and State Executive Committees remains valid and must continue until properly conducted congresses and a national convention are held.

The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/581/2026, was instituted by aggrieved members of the party, including Don Norman Obinna and others, who challenged the legality of the caretaker leadership’s move to appoint a congress committee for state elections.

They argued that such actions violated the party’s constitution, maintaining that only duly elected party structures have the authority to organise congresses.

Justice Abdulmalik upheld their claims, stating that neither the 1999 Constitution nor the ADC constitution empowers the caretaker or interim National Working Committee to set up committees for state congresses.

“The law is settled that courts will not interfere. However, where there is an allegation of breach of constitutional or statutory provisions, the court has a duty to intervene,” she said.

She further ruled: “Where a party alleges that its constitution has been violated, the court is bound to adjudicate. Any argument that this court lacks jurisdiction on that basis fails.”

The court concluded that evidence showed the tenure of the party’s state executives remains valid and should not be disrupted.

As a result, it nullified any steps taken by the Mark-led caretaker leadership to organise state congresses.

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