The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising any state congresses conducted by committees appointed by the caretaker leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by former Senate President, David Mark.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that the authority to conduct state congresses lies solely with the party’s state executive committees, not the national leadership.
The court further affirmed that the four-year tenure of the ADC’s State Working Committees and State Executive Committees remains valid and subsisting. According to the ruling, these structures will continue to function pending the conduct of properly constituted congresses and the eventual convocation of a national convention.
Justice Abdulmalik also declared that neither the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria nor the ADC’s internal constitution grants the caretaker or interim National Working Committee—headed by David Mark—the power to appoint committees for the purpose of conducting state congresses.
The judgment followed a 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. The plaintiffs instituted the case on behalf of themselves and all State Chairmen and State Executive Committees of the ADC.
The ruling is expected to have significant implications for the internal structure and leadership processes within the party, particularly regarding the legitimacy of its state-level congresses.
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