- The Federal High Court restrained INEC from recognising ADC congresses conducted by caretaker-appointed committees
- Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that only state executive committees had the authority to conduct such congresses
- The court affirmed that the tenure of ADC state executives remained valid pending proper congresses and a national convention
A 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).
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that the responsibility for conducting state congresses lies with the party’s state executive committees, not its national leadership.
The court further held that the four-year tenure of the ADC’s State Working Committees and State Executive Committees remains valid and subsisting until properly constituted congresses are conducted and a national convention is convened.
In a significant aspect of the ruling, Justice Abdulmalik stated that neither the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria nor the ADC’s internal constitution grants the caretaker or interim National Working Committee the authority to appoint committees to oversee state congresses.
The caretaker leadership of the party is headed by David Mark.
The judgment followed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/581/2026, filed by a group of plaintiffs including Don Norman Obinna, Johnny Tovie Derek, Obah C. Ehigiator, Olona Yinka, Charles Idowu Omideji, Samuel Pam Gyang, and Obianyo Patrick.
The plaintiffs brought the case on behalf of themselves and all state chairmen and members of the ADC’s state executive committees, challenging the legality of actions taken by the party’s national caretaker leadership.
The ruling is expected to have significant implications for the internal power structure of the ADC, particularly as political parties intensify preparations ahead of upcoming electoral processes.
It also reinforces the autonomy of state party structures and may affect ongoing efforts by the party’s national leadership to reorganise its internal framework.
ADC crisis deepens as Bala confirms presence at leadership meeting
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the internal crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has intensified, as factional national chairman Nafiu Bala confirmed that he was present at the meeting where an interim leadership led by former Senate President David Mark was installed in July 2025.
The development marks a significant moment in the party’s ongoing leadership dispute, which has since split the ADC into two factions—one aligned with Mark and the other led by Bala.