The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has been ordered by a Federal High Court in Abuja not to recognise any state congresses conducted by committees set up by the David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
In her judgment on Wednesday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that the responsibility of conducting state congresses lies with the party’s state executive committees and not the national leadership.
The court also 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 held that the caretaker/interim National Working Committee headed by David Mark had no powers under the Nigerian Constitution or the party constitution to set up committees to conduct state congresses.
The judgment is on 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.
