A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising or participating in any state congresses conducted by committees appointed by the caretaker leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that the responsibility for conducting state congresses rests with the party’s state executive committees, not the national leadership.
The court further ruled that the four-year tenure of the ADC’s State Working Committees and State Executive Committees remains valid and subsisting, pending the conduct of properly constituted congresses and the convocation of a national convention.
Justice Abdulmalik also held that neither the Constitution of Nigeria nor that of the party empowers the caretaker/interim National Working Committee, led by David Mark, to appoint committees for the purpose of conducting state congresses.
The judgment is on the 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, who sued for themselves and on behalf of all State Chairmen and State Executive Committees of the ADC.
Listed as defendants in the matter are the ADC; David Mark; Patricia Akwashiki; Bolaji Abdullahi; Rauf Aregbesola; Oserheimen Osunbor (sued on behalf of the caretaker/interim National Working Committee), and the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The plaintiffs had complained that the Mark-led leadership of the ADC constituted a congress committee to conduct state congresses, arguing that any such exercise, including the planned April 2026 congress, would amount to a violation of the party’s constitution.
With this ruling, the court has effectively halted the planned congresses under the caretaker leadership, reinforcing the authority of existing state party structures pending a properly convened national convention.
