BREAKING: Court Bars INEC from Recognising Mark-Led ADC Congresses

BREAKING: Court Bars INEC from Recognising Mark-Led ADC Congresses

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising or participating in any state congresses organised by committees set up by the caretaker leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Delivering the ruling on Wednesday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that the authority to conduct state congresses lies solely with the party’s state executive structures, not the national leadership.

The court affirmed that the existing State Working Committees and State Executive Committees of the ADC remain validly constituted, noting that their four-year tenure is still in force. According to the court, these structures can only be dissolved or replaced through properly conducted congresses followed by a duly convened national convention.

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Justice Abdulmalik further ruled that the caretaker or interim National Working Committee led by David Mark lacks the legal authority to constitute committees for the purpose of conducting state congresses. She stressed that neither the Nigerian Constitution nor the ADC’s internal constitution confers such powers on an interim leadership.

The ruling followed a suit instituted by Don Norman Obinna, Johnny Tovie Derek, Obah C. Ehigiator, Hon. Olona Yinka, Dr. Charles Idowu Omideji, Samuel Pam Gyang, and Obianyo Patrick, who approached the court on behalf of themselves and other state party leaders nationwide.

The plaintiffs argued that the actions of the Mark-led caretaker committee were ultra vires, particularly in appointing congress committees. They contended that any congress conducted under such arrangements would contravene the party’s constitution and undermine internal democracy.

Named as defendants in the suit were the ADC, David Mark, Patricia Akwashiki, Bolaji Abdullahi, Rauf Aregbesola, Oserheimen Osunbor, and INEC, all cited for their roles in the caretaker arrangement.

The plaintiffs also challenged the planned April 2026 state congresses, insisting that allowing the caretaker leadership to oversee the process would erode due process and weaken internal party governance.

With the court’s decision, INEC is now barred from recognising any outcome arising from congresses conducted by committees linked to the ADC caretaker leadership.

BREAKING: Court Bars INEC from Recognising Mark-Led ADC Congresses