A Federal High Court in Abuja today restrained Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising any state congresses conducted by committees appointed by the Senator David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the main opposition coalition African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in her judgment, held that the responsibility for conducting state congresses rests with the party’s state executive committees, not the national leadership.
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 as plaintiffs, suing for themselves and on behalf of all State Chairmen and State Executive Committees of the ADC.
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 1999 Constitution (as amended) nor the party constitution empowers the caretaker/interim National Working Committee, led by Sen. Mark, to appoint committees to conduct state congresses.
